be bad news
slang To be, or be perceived as, unpleasant or unsavory. Stay away from that gang of kids from the other side of town—they're bad news. Coach lets me play a lot, so if he gets fired, it will be bad news for me. Our wedding is this weekend, so a snowstorm would be bad news indeed!
be bad news
COMMON If you say that someone is bad news, you mean that they have a bad character and are likely to cause trouble. We've separated and I'm glad. He was bad news.
be bad news
be a problem or handicap. informal 1996 City Paper (Baltimore) From the moment we see Mark Wahlberg… surrounded by pool-hall scumbags, we know he's bad news.
be bad ˈnews (for somebody/something)
be likely to cause problems for somebody/something: Central heating is bad news for indoor plants.