bad apple

Definition

A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.

Etymology

From the proverb “one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch” (or a variant thereof).

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonym: bad egg"
• "There is one bad apple, and that is Katie, the beautiful prostitute with whom Catcher Bruce is in love. Unlike the cliche harlot of fiction, she is as short of compassion as Bruce is of IQ."
• "While most union leaders are people of integrity, there are still bad apples."