bad man

noun

Older Use.

1. (sometimes initial capital letters),  the devil.

2. the bogeyman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bad man¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was “awful” and “a bad man,” and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, public education and federally assisted programs, was a mistake.

From Salon

“Diddy beat the feds that boy a bad man,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram, before referencing a famous mobster notorious for evading convictions.

From Los Angeles Times

“Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!,” the pugnacious “In Da Club” artist said on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was a weak man, but he wasn’t a bad man, and he certainly wasn’t a spy,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

The court heard in evidence from the girl's friends that the boy thought he was "hard" or thought he was "some bad man".

From BBC