bum rap
1. noun An unfair accusation, punishment, or reputation. Tommy was sent to jail on a bum rap because of his prior criminal history, but we know he didn't rob that bank—he was with us the day it happened! He didn't get elected because he got such a bum rap from the mainstream media during his campaign.
2. verb To speak badly, or perhaps lie, about someone. Often hyphenated. Oh, that guy is always bum-rapping—you can't trust him.
bum-rap
To speak badly, or perhaps lie, about someone. If you keep bum-rapping about people like that, you're going to have a hard time making friends.