in someone's bad graces


Also, in someone's bad books. Out of favor with someone. For example, Harry's tardiness put him in the teacher's bad graces, or Making fun of the director is bound to get you in his bad books. The use of grace in the sense of “favor” dates from the 1400s; the use of books dates from the early 1800s. Also see black book, def. 1; in someone's good graces.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.