casts a bad light on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "casts a bad light on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something portrays a negative image or impression of someone or something. Example: "The recent scandal casts a bad light on the company's reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Vatileaks documents cast a bad light on him, too.

The Economist

The Indians, who stumbled onto this research years later, took offense at studies of schizophrenia and inbreeding, which they thought cast a bad light on the tribe.

The New York Times

"The show has cast a bad light on Hebburn when the complete opposite is true," says stern-looking Hebburn councillor John McCabe.

The Guardian

The students say they worry that pharmaceutical industry scandals in recent years — including some criminal convictions, billions of dollars in fines, proof of bias in research and publishing and false marketing claims — have cast a bad light on the medical profession.

The New York Times

It's not the first incident that has cast a bad light on bitcoin.

Vice

And it's not as if these stories are fabricated to cast strictly Orthodox Jews in a bad light – on the contrary - perhaps frustratingly for the rest of the Jewish community - they are all too real.

Independent

Brixx officials told Johnson a couple of days later that she was being fired because she violated a company policy banning workers from speaking disparagingly about customers and casting the restaurant in a bad light on a social network.

Huffington Post

But they cast Indonesia in a bad light at a time when it hopes to be cheered as a model emerging democracy.

The Economist

One stumbling block has been Mayweather's insistence on a strict blood-testing programme during training, but Pacquiao said those demands cast him in a bad light as a suspected cheat.

BBC

One stumbling block is Mayweather's insistence on a strict blood-testing programme during training, but Pacquiao said those demands cast him in a bad light as a suspected cheat.

BBC

Might there be a late revelation, real or faux, casting it all in a bad light for him?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "casts a bad light on" when you want to emphasize the negative impact of an action or situation on the reputation or perception of someone or something.

Common error

While acceptable, "casts a bad light on" can sound somewhat informal. Consider more formal alternatives like "reflects poorly on" or "tarnishes the reputation of" in professional or academic writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "casts a bad light on" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of negatively affecting the perception or reputation of someone or something. This often highlights the detrimental consequences of certain actions or situations.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "casts a bad light on" is a verb phrase used to describe how something negatively impacts the reputation or perception of someone or something. While grammatically correct, it is used with limited examples in the provided data, according to Ludwig AI. More formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "reflects poorly on" or "tarnishes the reputation of". The phrase serves to highlight negative consequences and express criticism, which deems it very practical in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reflects poorly on

Focuses on the negative impact on reputation or image.

paints a negative picture of

Emphasizes the creation of an unfavorable impression.

tarnishes the reputation of

Highlights damage to someone's or something's good name.

puts in a negative perspective

Indicates a shift to a more unfavorable viewpoint.

discredits

Implies a loss of credibility or trust.

compromises

Suggests a weakening of integrity or value.

undermines

Highlights a gradual weakening or erosion of something.

damages the image of

Focuses on harm to the external perception.

casts a shadow over

Emphasizes a darkening or clouding effect.

gives a bad impression of

Highlights the creation of a negative initial perception.

FAQs

How can I use "casts a bad light on" in a sentence?

You can use "casts a bad light on" to describe how something negatively affects the reputation or image of someone or something. For example, "The scandal "casts a bad light on" the entire organization".

What are some alternatives to "casts a bad light on"?

Alternatives include "reflects poorly on", "paints a negative picture of", or "tarnishes the reputation of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "casts a bad light on" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered acceptable in most contexts, but it leans towards the informal side. For more formal writing, consider alternatives like "reflects poorly on" or "undermines".

Which is correct: "casts a bad light on" or "shines a bad light on"?

"Casts a bad light on" is the idiomatic and more common expression. "Shines a bad light on" is less conventional and might sound awkward to native English speakers.