Phrase guide

bad taste in one's mouth

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A feeling that something is morally despicable as to cause nausea.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The more I thought of my orders, the more it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A feeling of guilt, responsibility, or embarrassment as to cause nausea.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Knowing that I had inadvertently aided a killer, left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A feeling of disappointment and frustration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Refers to the feeling of nausea or its aftereffects.