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Bad apple

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A single corrupt or troublesome person whose influence spoils an entire group; this proverb, rooted in the "one bad apple spoils the barrel," is used poetically to explore moral contagion and collective downfall.

Detailed Definition
A bad apple denotes a single negative influence ruining the whole. In poetry, it explores morality, group dynamics, and scapegoating with proverbial wisdom.
Example
Example in poetry:
Group dynamic verse: "One bad apple spoils the harvest of trust in our fragile circle."; Moral tale: "The bad apple poisoned the barrel with whispers of deceit."; Example: "Used to explore corruption within communities in narrative ballads."; "Avoid the bad apple that rots collective dreams."
Additional Notes
Proverbial spoilage image for group dynamics, explores corruption in community ballads. Educational on scapegoating. Usage tip: Use in moral tales to warn of influence, heightening tension in ensemble narratives.
Also Known As
Rotten apple One bad apple Bad egg
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