bum rap
Wrongful charge, slangily
A bum rap is an unfair accusation, conviction, or blame—punishment that doesn't fit the facts or falls on the wrong person.
Someone serving time for a crime they didn't commit got a bum rap.
The phrase extends beyond legal contexts: He got a bum rap as a difficult employee when really he just asked tough questions.
To bum-rap someone is to criticize them unfairly.
Untrue claim of wrongdoing
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
- miscarriage of justiceLegal system punishing the innocent
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- frame-upOrchestrated false incrimination
railroaded · exoneration · innocence · overturned · acquittal · vindication · unfairness · victimization
Spoken false defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
mudslinging · discredit · tarnish · besmirch · vilification · aspersion · calumny · misrepresentation
false accusation
Untrue claim of wrongdoing
- wrongful convictionErroneous guilty verdict
- miscarriage of justiceLegal system punishing the innocent
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
frame-up · railroaded · exoneration · innocence · overturned · acquittal · vindication · unfairness · victimization · setup
slander
Spoken false defamation
- smearSpread or defame
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
character assassination · mudslinging · discredit · tarnish · besmirch · vilification · aspersion · calumny · misrepresentation · bad press
- false accusationsfalse accusation, false charge, false claim, wrongful accusation, frame-up
- vintage slangbee's knees, cat's meow, copacetic, groovy, hep
bum rapjust punishment
Fitting penalty for wrongdoing
fair trial · due process · justice served · poetic justice · comeuppance