be a bad influence
/bi ə bæd ˈɪnfluəns/
Meaning
To be a bad influence means to encourage someone, usually a friend or younger person, to behave badly, make poor choices, or break rules. It can be used seriously when discussing peer pressure, or playfully between friends who tempt each other to indulge in minor vices like eating junk food. The tone depends entirely on context, ranging from concerned to lighthearted.
Examples
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My parents thought my new high school friends were a bad influence on me.
My parents thought my new high school friends were a bad influence on me.
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Don't let him buy that expensive watch; he is a bad influence on your spending habits.
Don't let him buy that expensive watch; he is a bad influence on your spending habits.
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She is such a bad influence; she always convinces me to skip my morning workouts.
She is such a bad influence; she always convinces me to skip my morning workouts.
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I try to be a good role model because I don't want to be a bad influence on my little brother.
I try to be a good role model because I don't want to be a bad influence on my little brother.
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They worried that the older kids in the neighborhood might be a bad influence.
They worried that the older kids in the neighborhood might be a bad influence.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He is a bad influence for his younger brother.
✓ He is a bad influence on his younger brother.
The noun 'influence' is followed by the preposition 'on', not 'for' or 'to'.
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✗ She has a bad influence to her classmates.
✓ She is a bad influence on her classmates.
While you can 'have a bad influence on' someone, the common expression to describe a person's character is 'to be a bad influence on' someone.
Related Expressions
Practice
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Parents often worry that older teenagers might ___ on younger children.
💡 encourage poor behavior or rule-breaking
Show answer
be a bad influence
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I know I shouldn't eat this dessert, but you are always trying to ___!
💡 tempt someone to do something they shouldn't
Show answer
be a bad influence