noun
rap
An accusation or assignment of blame.
He faces a robbery rap and insists he is innocent.
Etymology
The blow sense developed figuratively into a rebuke or adverse judgment. A criminal rap is an accusation or blame laid against someone.
More examples
- She takes the rap for her team's mistake.
- The lawyer helps him beat the rap.
- The restaurant gets a bad rap for its slow service.
Forms
rap · raps
Similar words
- charge
- Names a formal legal accusation, without rap's slang tone.
- blame
- Assigns responsibility for wrongdoing without necessarily alleging a crime.
- accusation
- Emphasizes the claim that someone has done something wrong.