A bad apple
A bad apple
A person who negatively influences others in a group
A person who negatively influences others in a groupThe idiom 'A bad apple' is derived from the idea that if one apple in a basket is rotten, it can quickly spread the rot to all the other apples. Similarly, in human terms, a 'bad apple' refers to a person who, by their actions or behaviour, has a negative influence on the people around them or destroys the harmony of a group. This person can lead others to behave badly or create a toxic environment that is difficult for others to thrive in.
The idiom 'A bad apple' is derived from the idea that if one apple in a basket is rotten, it can quickly spread the rot to all the other apples. Similarly, in human terms, a 'bad apple' refers to a person who, by their actions or behaviour, has a negative influence on the people around them or destroys the harmony of a group. This person can lead others to behave badly or create a toxic environment that is difficult for others to thrive in.

Use cases
Despite the overall good performance of the team, John's constant tardiness and lack of commitment made him a bad apple, spreading negativity and affecting the morale of his teammates.
In every class, there's always a bad apple who disrupts the lessons and influences others to misbehave. As a teacher, it's my responsibility to address this issue properly to ensure a conducive learning environment for all.
The police force is made up of brave and dedicated individuals. However, the actions of a few bad apples should not tarnish the reputation of the entire force.
The corruption scandal exposed a few bad apples in the government, leading to widespread distrust among the public.
In an office setting, a bad apple can create a toxic work environment, leading to decreased productivity and job satisfaction among employees.
In our neighborhood, there was one bad apple who always caused trouble and influenced the local kids to engage in petty theft.
The bad apple in our family was my Uncle Harry. His constant schemes and misadventures often brought grief and embarrassment to us.
In the reality show, one contestant played the role of a bad apple, causing drama and creating unnecessary conflicts among the participants.
There's always one bad apple in every group project, the one who doesn't contribute but reaps the benefits of the group's hard work.
The company had to let go of some employees who were bad apples, their unethical practices were affecting the company's reputation and work culture.