bad apple

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a discontented, troublemaking, or dishonest person.

   In any group of average citizens there are bound to be a few bad apples.

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Etymology

Origin of bad apple

From the proverb “one bad apple spoils the barrel”

Example Sentences

My husband is with me in kicking Mia out and telling his relatives to stuff it but thinks Mia was just one bad apple and argues that our other tenants worked out pretty well.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2024

One prominent commentator, for example, wrote about Trump’s most recent threats while entirely ignoring his "bad apple" analogy.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2024

He said Mr Raab was "not just one bad apple", adding there was a "wider problem with ministerial bullying than the prime minister wants to admit".

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2023

Richardson compared it to putting someone in jail for over a month because “there might be a bad apple in the bunch.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 10, 2023

“Headmistresses are always so cooperative. They’d rather expel a bad apple or two than risk their school getting into the newspapers for the wrong reasons. Who can blame them?”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell