Bad Blood
“Bad blood” describes hostile feelings or resentment between people because of past conflict. The guide stays with present-day dictionary meaning and does not invent an exact origin story.
“Bad blood” means lasting hostility or resentment between people after conflict.
Key details
Further guidance
Contextual Examples
There has been bad blood between the two teams since last year’s dispute.
The mediation helped reduce the bad blood between the former partners.
History Boundary
This guide establishes current dictionary-supported meaning and does not claim an exact inventor, coinage date, or first use.
Meaning
“Bad blood” means hostile or hateful feelings between people, especially after earlier arguments or conflict.
Meaning Boundary
The phrase describes an interpersonal relationship or atmosphere; it is not a literal statement about blood.
Practical Use
Use “bad blood” for continuing hostility, resentment, or ill feeling between people or groups after conflict.
Tone Boundary
It is concise and idiomatic but can be vague; formal reporting may be clearer if it names the actual dispute or hostility.
Usage Boundary
Use the phrase figuratively in contexts matching the documented meaning rather than assuming a literal reading.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Bad blood — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Current meaning of bad blood as hostile feelings after past arguments