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Meaning of one bad apple can spoil the barrel | Babel Free

Phrase CEFR C2

Definitions

One bad person or element can have a harmful influence on many others.

Equivalents

हिन्दी एक गंदी मछली पूरे तालाब को गंदा कर देती है

Tiếng Việt con sâu làm rầu nồi canh

Examples

“"One of our kittens started chewing on the chair the other day and now they're all doing it! Just goes to show that one bad apple can spoil the barrel."”

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch one bad turn deserves another one can dish it out, but one can't take it one can run but one can't hide one can't hold two watermelons in one hand one could do it in one's sleep