bum rap: Meaning and Definition of

bum' rap'

Pronunciation: [key]
— Slang. Slang.
  1. an unjust accusation, verdict, or punishment: He was sent to prison on a bum rap.
  2. an adverse opinion or judgment considered undeserved or unjust: The review was a bum rap, but I liked the play.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.