leave a bad taste in one's mouth

1. Make a lingering bad impression on one, as in The argument left a bad taste in my mouth, so after that I avoided talking politics. This expression transfers the bad taste left by consuming bitter or otherwise unpleasant food to a distasteful experience. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Especially given how sadistic the film becomes, this denouement may leave a bad taste in one’s mouth.

From Salon

Nevertheless, EA’s penchant for shuttering studios it acquires certainly can leave a bad taste in one’s mouth.

From Forbes

An unpleasant play is likely to leave a bad taste in one's mouth, but that bad taste may save her from thinking that evil can be honey-coated and harmless.

From Project Gutenberg