bête noire

[ beyt nwahr; French bet nwar ]

noun

, plural bêtes noires [beyt , nwahrz, bet , nwar].

1. a person or thing especially disliked or dreaded; bane; bugbear.

bête noire

/ bɛt nwar /

noun

1. a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads

bête noire

1. Something or someone a person views with particular dislike: “The new candidate for governor is the bête noire of all the liberals in the state.” From French, meaning “black beast.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bête noire¹

1835–45; < French: literally, black beast

Word History and Origins

Origin of bête noire¹

literally: black beast

Idioms and Phrases

A person or thing that is particularly disliked. For example, Calculus was the bête noire of my freshman courses . This phrase, French for “black beast,” entered the English language in the early 1800s. For synonyms, see pain in the neck ; thorn in one's flesh .

Example Sentences

Mr Livingstone revelled in being a bete noire to the right, supporting everyone from striking miners to Sinn Fein's leaders at the height of the IRA's bombing campaign.

From BBC

Macron's hardball tactics to ensure French fishermen got a good deal had made him the bete noire of British tabloids.

From Reuters

Despite their surging popularity, labor unions remain the bete noire of C-suites everywhere.

From Washington Post

It has been Roberts leading the charge to strike down campaign finance regulations, a particular bete noire of a Republican Party eager to collect dark money.

From Los Angeles Times

The courts meanwhile jailed a succession of once senior officials on corruption charges, while the ageing head of the military, the bete noire of some protesters, died suddenly of a heart attack.

From Reuters