2 ADJ You use bad to indicate that something unpleasant or undesirable is severe or great in degree. □ He had a bad accident two years ago and had to give up farming. □ This was a bad case of dangerous driving. □ The pain is often so bad she wants to scream. □ The floods are described as the worst in nearly fifty years.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A bad idea, decision, or method is not sensible or not correct. □ As a carbon-reduction measure this is not necessarily a bad idea. □ Of course politicians will sometimes make bad decisions. □ That's not a bad way to proceed, just somewhat different. □ The worst thing you can do is underestimate an opponent.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a piece of news, an action, or a sign as bad , you mean that it is unlikely to result in benefit or success. □ The closure of the project is bad news for her staff. □ It was a bad start in my relationship with Warr. □ The report couldn't have come at a worse time for the European Commission.
5 ADJ Something that is bad is of an unacceptably low standard, quality, or amount. □ Many old people in Britain are living in bad housing. □ The state schools' main problem is that teachers' pay is so bad. □ It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Someone who is bad at doing something is not skilful or successful at it. □ [+ at ] He had increased Britain's reputation for being bad at languages. □ He was a bad driver. □ Rose was a poor cook and a worse mother.
7 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that it is bad that something happens, you mean it is unacceptable, unfortunate, or wrong. □ Not being able to hear doesn't seem as bad as not being able to see. □ You need at least ten pounds if you go to the cinema nowadays–it's really bad.
8 ADJ [with neg] You can say that something is not bad to mean that it is quite good or acceptable, especially when you are rather surprised about this. □ 'How much is he paying you?'—'Oh, five thousand.'—'Not bad.' □ 'How are you, mate?'—'Not bad, mate, how's yourself?' □ He's not a bad chap–quite human for an accountant. □ That's not a bad idea.
9 ADJ A bad person has morally unacceptable attitudes and behaviour. □ I've made mistakes, but I'm not a bad person. □ He does not think that his beliefs make him any worse than any other man. ● bad|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ They only recognise badness when they perceive it in others.
10 ADJ A bad child disobeys rules and instructions or does not behave in a polite and correct way. □ You are a bad boy for repeating what I told you. □ Many parents find it hard to discourage bad behaviour.
11 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you are in a bad mood, you are angry and behave unpleasantly to people. □ She is in a bit of a bad mood because she's just given up smoking.
12 ADJ [oft ADJ that] If you feel bad about something, you feel rather sorry or guilty about it. □ [+ about ] You don't have to feel bad about relaxing. □ I feel bad that he's doing most of the work. □ Are you trying to make me feel bad?
13 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you have a bad back, heart, leg, or eye, it is injured, diseased, or weak. □ Alastair has a bad back so we have a hard bed.
14 ADJ [usu go ADJ , oft ADJ n] Food that has gone bad is not suitable to eat because it has started to decay. □ They bought so much meat that some went bad.
15 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Bad language is language that contains offensive words such as swear words. □ I don't like to hear bad language in the street. □ I said a bad word.
16 → see also worse , worst
17 PHRASE If you say that it is too bad that something is the case, you mean you are sorry or sad that it is the case. [FEELINGS ] □ It is too bad that Eleanor had to leave so soon. □ Too bad he used his intelligence for criminal purposes.
18 CONVENTION If you say ' too bad ', you are indicating that nothing can be done to change the situation, and that you do not feel sorry or sympathetic about this. [FEELINGS ] □ Too bad if you missed the bus.
19 to make the best of a bad job → see best
20 bad blood → see blood
21 bad luck → see luck
22 to get a bad press → see press
23 to go from bad to worse → see worse
ba d che que (bad cheques ) in AM, use bad check N‑COUNT A bad cheque is a bank cheque that will not be paid because there is a mistake on it, or because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote the cheque.
ba d de bt (bad debts ) N‑COUNT A bad debt is a sum of money that has been lent but is not likely to be repaid. □ The bank set aside £1.1 billion to cover bad debts from business failures.
bad|dy /bæ di/ (baddies ) also baddie N‑COUNT [usu pl] A baddy is a person in a story or film who is considered to be evil or wicked, or who is fighting on the wrong side. You can also refer to the baddies in a situation in real life. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …the baddies who are trying to take over the world. in AM, usually use bad guy
bade /bæ d, be I d/ Bade is a past tense of bid .
badge /bæ dʒ/ (badges ) N‑COUNT A badge is a piece of metal or cloth which you wear to show that you belong to an organization or support a cause. American English usually uses button to refer to a small round metal badge.