1 C1 idiomatic slang
To damage, ruin, or harm something or someone. (Caribbean English slang)
"Don't lend him your car — he'll bad it up before the week is over."
separable
bad up
C1 slang separable transitive
Caribbean English slang meaning to damage, harm, or ruin something or someone, or to make something worse.
In plain English
To hurt or ruin something or someone, or to make a situation much worse.
What does "bad up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
To harm someone's reputation or speak badly about them. (Caribbean English slang)
"Why are you badding up his name when he hasn't done anything wrong?"
separable
Usage tip
Caribbean English, particularly Jamaican patois and Trinidad and Tobago English. Not widely understood outside Caribbean communities. Can mean physical harm, reputational damage, or ruining an object or situation. ESL learners will encounter this in Caribbean music, literature, and conversation.
Words that pair with "bad up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
reputation face name someone things situation
How to conjugate "bad up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bad up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bads up
he/she/it
Past simple
baded up
yesterday
Past participle
baded up
have + pp
-ing form
bading up
continuous
Hear "bad up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bad up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.