View synonyms for

bum rap

Also bad rap

[buhm rap]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Slang.

an unjust accusation, verdict, or punishment.
He was sent to prison on a bum rap.
an adverse opinion or judgment considered undeserved or unjust.
The review was a bum rap, but I liked the play.

bum rap

noun

a trumped-up or false charge
an unjust punishment

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bum rap¹

First recorded in 1910–15; bum ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “disappointing, unpleasant”) + rap ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “blame, punishment, criminal charge”)

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Idioms and Phrases

A false accusation or conviction; also, unfair criticism or action. For example, He claimed he was in prison on a bum rap, or The theater critics gave her last play a bum rap. This expression originated in the 1920s as underworld slang, and by the mid-1900s it was also used figuratively for other kinds of injustice.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Look, I think Garvey gets a bum rap for not stating firmly whether he’ll vote for Trump.

From

But it’s a bum rap to blame the state government for not building more dams in California.

From

ProPublica reported that they included posts “expressing worry about a Muslim takeover and whether Joe McCarthy got a bum rap.”

From

“She’s gotten a complete bum rap,” said Hayes, who spent two years as special assistant to the president for climate policy.

From

“I think the guy gets a bum rap,” the New York Democrat said on NBC “Meet the Press.”

From

bumpy bum-rush

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