bad blood
B2Informal to neutral; common in spoken language, journalism, and narrative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Longstanding feelings of animosity, resentment, or bitter hostility between people or groups.
A state of mutual ill will or distrust that often stems from past arguments, betrayals, or conflicts, affecting present and future relations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always an uncountable noun phrase. Implies a history behind the hostility, not a momentary quarrel. Often used to explain ongoing tension or the inability to cooperate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Bad blood' is equally common and used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes deep-seated, often personal, animosity. May imply family feuds, business rivalries, or political grudges.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is bad blood between X and Y.X caused bad blood with Y.The bad blood stems from Z.Bad blood remains after Z.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No love lost (between)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to explain why two former partners or rival firms cannot collaborate: 'The failed merger left a lot of bad blood.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose but may appear in historical or sociological texts describing group conflicts.
Everyday
Common for describing fallouts between friends, neighbours, or family members.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is bad blood between the two brothers.
- The bad blood started last year.
- The argument caused bad blood between the neighbours.
- I hope there is no bad blood after our disagreement.
- The political scandal created bad blood within the party that lasted for decades.
- Despite the official apology, some bad blood remains between the two communities.
- The acrimonious takeover bid stirred up such bad blood that any future cooperation became unthinkable.
- Historians trace the current diplomatic frost to the bad blood generated by the treaty's perceived inequities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of blood as family or kinship; 'bad blood' means the relationship is poisoned.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONS ARE FLUIDS/BLOOD (poisoned blood = poisoned relationship).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not related to 'плохая кровь' (poor health or lineage). Closer to 'вражда', 'неприязнь', 'старая обида'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as countable ('a bad blood'). Incorrect: *'They have a bad blood.' Correct: 'They have bad blood.'
- Confusing with 'bad mood' (временное состояние).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'bad blood' typically imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively an idiom referring to hostile relations. The medical term is unrelated (e.g., 'blood poisoning' or 'sepsis').
No, it is inappropriate. 'Bad blood' implies lasting animosity from past events, not a single recent dispute.
It is neutral but more common in informal spoken English, journalism, and storytelling. Avoid in very formal academic or legal writing.
'Rivalry' can be competitive but not necessarily hostile. 'Bad blood' always implies active resentment and ill will.