(a) stain on someone's reputation
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(a) stain on someone's character — a stain on someone’s character/reputation etc/ phrase something bad that someone has done that spoils their reputation Thesaurus: damage to someone s reputationsynonym Main entry: stain … Useful english dictionary
stain — [stān] vt. [ME stainen, aphetic < disteinen,DISTAIN: sense and form infl. by ON steinn, color, lit., STONE (hence, mineral pigment)] 1. to spoil the appearance of by patches or streaks of color or dirt; discolor; spot 2. to bring shame upon… … English World dictionary
stain */ — I UK [steɪn] / US verb Word forms stain : present tense I/you/we/they stain he/she/it stains present participle staining past tense stained past participle stained 1) [intransitive/transitive] to leave a mark on something accidentally Sweat had… … English dictionary
stain — stain1 [ steın ] noun * 1. ) count a mark left accidentally on clothes or surfaces: There was a dark stain on the carpet. coffee/blood/oil stains 2. ) count or uncount a liquid used for coloring wood 3. ) count or uncount SCIENCE a liquid used… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
stain — steɪn n. discoloration, smudge, spot; liquid substance used as a coloring agent (on wood, etc.); taint or blemish on one s reputation v. discolor, smudge, spot; color by applying stain; taint or blemish someone s reputation … English contemporary dictionary
stain — ► VERB 1) mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed. 2) damage (someone s or something s reputation). 3) colour with a penetrative dye or chemical. ► NOUN 1) a stubborn discoloured patch or dirty mark. 2) a thing that damages a… … English terms dictionary
stain — stain1 [steın] v [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Partly from Old French desteindre to discolor , from teindre to give something a different color , from Latin tingere ( TINGE2); partly from Old Norse steina to paint ] 1.) [I and T] to accidentally make … Dictionary of contemporary English
stain — 1 verb 1 (I, T) to accidentally make a mark on something, especially one that cannot be removed, or to be marked in this way (+ with): teeth stained with nicotine from years of smoking | Pale carpets stain too easily. 2 (T) to change the colour… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
stain — verb 1》 mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed. 2》 damage (someone s or something s reputation). 3》 colour with a penetrative dye or chemical. noun 1》 a stubborn discoloured patch or dirty mark. 2》 a thing that damages a… … English new terms dictionary
smear — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. t. [be]daub, besmirch, smudge; grease, anoint, defame; slander; soil, sully. See covering. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. distortion, slander, put up job*; see deception 1 , lie 1 , trick 1 . v. 1. [To… … English dictionary for students
