bad blood

Meaning

'Bad blood' refers to feelings of anger, resentment, or hostility between people or groups, usually due to past arguments or mistreatment. It describes a long-standing negative relationship rather than a temporary disagreement. It is most commonly used with the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'there is bad blood between them').

Examples

• There has been bad blood between those two families for generations.

  There has been bad blood between those two families for generations.

• I don't want any bad blood between us just because we disagreed on the project.

  I don't want any bad blood between us just because we disagreed on the project.

• Even though they divorced, there doesn't seem to be any bad blood between them.

  Even though they divorced, there doesn't seem to be any bad blood between them.

• The bad blood between the rival companies started after a copyright dispute.

  The bad blood between the rival companies started after a copyright dispute.

• We managed to resolve our differences, so there is no more bad blood.

  We managed to resolve our differences, so there is no more bad blood.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They have a bad blood.

  ✓ There is bad blood between them.

  'Bad blood' is an uncountable noun phrase, so it should not be used with the indefinite article 'a'.

• ✗ I feel bad blood for my ex-boss.

  ✓ There is bad blood between me and my ex-boss.

  You do not usually 'feel' bad blood for someone; instead, bad blood 'exists between' people.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I hope there is no ___ between us after yesterday's argument.

  💡 Long-standing resentment or anger.

  Show answer

  bad blood

• The ___ between the two neighbors started over a property line dispute.

  💡 Hostility or negative feelings.

  Show answer

  bad blood