Bad rap vs. bad wrap
I can admit it: I had to look this one up.
When something (or someone) is being bad-mouthed or talked about in a not-very-nice way, is it (or he or she) getting a bad rap or a bad wrap?
I recently penned an article about onions (with a yummy recipe for Veggie French Onion Soup) and wrote, “Onions get a bad wrap.” It just didn’t feel right, so I looked it up.
Now this is a bad wrap (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerryvaughan/2748524622)
Lesson No. 1: When it comes to research and writing (and, of course, editing), follow your gut and look the blasted thing up.
Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary describes a bad rap as “an unjust accusation, verdict or punishment” or “an adverse opinion or judgment considered undeserved or unjust.”
It does not (ahem) mention bad wrap.
There ’tis.
Happy trails!
SAK
