Definition

1. Noun:
   • A list of people who are out of favor or under suspicion: A "black book" is a figurative or literal list of individuals who are disapproved of, distrusted, or considered to have done something wrong by a person or organization in authority.

Usage

• The term is typically used in a figurative sense to describe a state of disfavor. It often implies that being on such a list may result in negative consequences, such as exclusion, punishment, or denial of privileges.
• It is commonly used with the prepositions "in" or "on" (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • After the argument, I'm definitely in the manager's black book. (Meaning: I am out of favor with the manager.)
  • The regulatory agency keeps a black book of companies with safety violations. (Meaning: The agency maintains a list of disapproved companies.)
  • He was put on the black book for leaking confidential information.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in someone's black book": To be in a state of disfavor with someone.
  • Be careful what you say; you don't want to end up in her black book.
• "to land/put someone in/on the black book": To cause someone to fall into disfavor or to officially place them on such a list.
  • His constant lateness finally landed him on the supervisor's black book.

Variants and Related Words

• Blacklist (n/v): A more common and direct synonym. As a noun, it is a list of people or groups to be avoided or distrusted. As a verb, it means to put someone on such a list.
  • The actor was blacklisted by the studio for his political views.

Synonyms

• Blacklist: A list of persons or organizations to be boycotted or punished.
• Shitlist (vulgar, informal): A list of people one is angry with.
• Naughty list (humorous, informal): Often associated with Santa Claus's list of children who misbehaved.

Idioms and Phrases

• "To have a black book": To possess or maintain such a list.
  • Rumors say the headmaster has a black book of troublesome students.
• "A little black book": This is a distinct, common idiom referring to a personal address book, historically used by men to list contact information of romantic interests. It is separate from the general "black book" meaning of disfavor.
  • He lost his little black book with all his dates' phone numbers.

Noun

1. a list of people who are out of favor