in someone's bad graces

Idioms and Phrases

Also, in someone's bad books . Out of favor with someone. For example, Harry's tardiness put him in the teacher's bad graces , or Making fun of the director is bound to get you in his bad books . The use of grace in the sense of “favor” dates from the 1400s; the use of books dates from the early 1800s. Also see black book , def. 1; in someone's good graces .