be bad news

be bad news

slang To be, or be perceived as, unpleasant or unsavory. Stay away from that gang of kids from the other side of town—they're bad news. Coach lets me play a lot, so if he gets fired, it will be bad news for me. Our wedding is this weekend, so a snowstorm would be bad news indeed!See also: bad, news

be bad news

COMMON If you say that someone is bad news, you mean that they have a bad character and are likely to cause trouble. We've separated and I'm glad. He was bad news.See also: bad, news

be bad news

be a problem or handicap. informal 1996 City Paper (Baltimore) From the moment we see Mark Wahlberg… surrounded by pool-hall scumbags, we know he's bad news. See also: bad, news

be bad ˈnews (for somebody/something)

be likely to cause problems for somebody/something: Central heating is bad news for indoor plants.See also: bad, news