English Expression · Intermediate
bad apple
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others
Pronunciation: say bad apple
Meaning
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
Example
He was a bad apple who corrupted the entire team with his negative attitude.
He was a bad apple who corrupted the entire team with his negative attitude.
Practice tips
- Practice bad apple out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.