in a bad light
idiom
: in a way that makes someone or something look bad
The defendants were shown/depicted in a bad light by the lawyer.
Examples of in a bad light in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk had complained the old reporting rules cast his company in a bad light.
—
Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department established a strict media policy in recent years following reports that the department thought put it in a bad light.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
But apart from the opportunity cost of not nominating a great performance, if Stan gets nominated for playing Donald Trump in a movie that casts Donald Trump in a bad light, guess who’s going to start interjecting his big, gross, sweaty opinions into the Oscar race?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Even non-malicious actors, such as family members and friends, could inadvertently post something that revealed sensitive information or that painted the executive and their company in a bad light.
—Chad Angle, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in a bad light
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Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department established a strict media policy in recent years following reports that the department thought put it in a bad light.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
But apart from the opportunity cost of not nominating a great performance, if Stan gets nominated for playing Donald Trump in a movie that casts Donald Trump in a bad light, guess who’s going to start interjecting his big, gross, sweaty opinions into the Oscar race?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Even non-malicious actors, such as family members and friends, could inadvertently post something that revealed sensitive information or that painted the executive and their company in a bad light.
—Chad Angle, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in a bad light
Cite this Entry
“In a bad light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20a%20bad%20light. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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