What's the meaning of "bad to do with"?
He had always been bad to do with since the day he was born, and his mother did not often care to cross him; indeed, the more she tried to make him obey her, the less heed he paid to anything she said, so it usually ended by his taking his own way.

This is from a Scottish fairly tale. What's the meaning of "bad to do with "? Could you teach me?

Question

What's the meaning of "bad to do with"?
He had always been bad to do with since the day he was born, and his mother did not often care to cross him; indeed, the more she tried to make him obey her, the less heed he paid to anything she said, so it usually ended by his taking his own way.

This is from a Scottish fairly tale. What's the meaning of "bad to do with "? Could you teach me?

Answer

Seems to mean: Stubborn and at least somewhat disagreeable.

Answer

I am willing to bet that it is either an idiom of a very limited region or it is just some fanciful wording on the part of the author. I do not believe that this is, generally, a real phrase.

But in terms of what the author means, I believe that Yuri is correct.

Answer

I think that it means that he is not a good person to have business with, to interact with.
He is bad to do with = It's difficult to cooperate with him

Answer

I think it means poor :) at least, variations of "bad to do" often do.

Answers · 8

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