06 March 2006

sidebar: "bad rap"

Now, is it:

"bad rap", "bad rep", or "bad wrap" ?

I can see an argument for all of the above, actually...but I'm wondering what the proper saying is, colloquially speaking.

(And I'm almost certain it's not "bad wrap".)
Posted by at

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm certain that "bad rap" is the closest. The original form would have been "bum rap" with the meaning of a punishment meted out to the wrong person, using "Bum" here in the same sense as is used with "bum steer."

Initially, "rap" probably meant an actaul physical hit as in a "rap accross the knuckles," or "taking the rap" for another's crime. Hence the term "rap sheet," a list of previous convictions.

Mar 6, 2006, 2:58:00 PM
jenni said...

I'm not sure, but I used "bum rap" on my blog today.

Mar 6, 2006, 3:01:00 PM
The Doctor said...

I saw a bum rap once- it was a bad rap.
I had a bad wrap once too; it looked good though, until I ate it.
But if you are referring to my ability to spell, tell jokes, or generally keep people's attention for several minutes without interruption, then that is where I have a bad rep, or reputation that somewhat colors another's perception of me before I have a chance to prove otherwise...

Mar 6, 2006, 9:05:00 PM
The Doctor said...

and now that I've read the previous post where you used it, I think that bad rap (as in rap on the knuckles) works best for that sentence, for certainly diplomacy does not have a bad reputation, just some of the diplomats we may know of...

Mar 6, 2006, 10:17:00 PM

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