blot

A stain or mark against one's reputation or that of one's family. An escutcheon was a heraldic shield that bore a family's coat of arms, and thus serves as a metaphor for one's honor. I was at the top of my class in college, but that narcotics charge will be a blot on my escutcheon for years to come. That councilor accepted bribes to allow unregulated development projects to go ahead? Wow, talk about a blot on her escutcheon. He came from a very noble family, but his lascivious lifestyle ended up being a blot on his escutcheon later in his life.

A stain or mark against one's reputation or that of one's family. An escutcheon was a heraldic shield that bore a family's coat of arms, and thus serves as a metaphor for one's honor. I was at the top of my class in college, but that narcotics charge will be a blot on the escutcheon for years to come. That councilor accepted bribes to allow unregulated development projects to go ahead? Wow, talk about a blot on the escutcheon. He came from a very noble family, but his lascivious lifestyle ended up being a blot on the escutcheon later in his life.

Something that is considered unattractive that covers up or otherwise takes away from the value of something attractive. Although many people say that they want clean energy, they argue that miles of turbines on wind farms are a blot on the landscape. I can't believe they're building a storage facility on that open field. Talk about a blot on the landscape! No one can build on this land, so you don't have to worry about a blot on the landscape coming in the future and blocking your ocean view.

To tarnish, damage, or ruin one's reputation by behaving badly or committing some mistake or social transgression. Refers to a child's copy book, the blotting (staining with ink) of which ruins one's work. Primarily heard in UK. The local councilor blotted his copy book when it came to light that he had accepted bribes to allow unregulated development projects to go ahead. I really blotted my copy book when I spilled my drink on the visiting dignitary last night. Don't blot my copy book with those lies about my work ethic!

Fig. a sight that spoils the look of a place. That monstrosity you call a house is a blot on the landscape. You should have hired a real architect!

Fig. to forget someone or something by covering up memories or by trying to forget. I try to blot those bad thoughts out. I tried to blot out those unhappy days.

Sl. to kill someone. (Originally underworld slang.) Sorry, chum, we got orders to blot you out. The gang blotted out the only living witness before the trial.

to make something invisible by covering it. (See also blot someone or something out.) Don't blot the name out on the application form. Who blotted out the name on this form?

Obliterate, wipe out of existence or memory, as in At least one Indian nation was blotted out as the pioneers moved west, or The trauma of the accident blotted out all her memory of recent events. This idiom, first recorded in 1516, uses the verb to blot in the sense of making something illegible by spotting or staining it with ink. The New Testament has it (Acts 3:19): "Repent ye ... that your sins may be blotted out."

If a building or other structure is a blot on the landscape, it is very ugly and spoils a place which is otherwise attractive. The power station is both a blot on the landscape and a smear on the environment. Urban cemeteries, it seems to me, are blots on the landscape.

If there is a blot on your escutcheon, you have damaged your reputation by doing something wrong. For the leaders, this is probably a blip rather than a blot on the escutcheon. Note: An escutcheon is a shield, especially a heraldic shield displaying a coat of arms.

If you blot your copybook, you damage your reputation by doing something wrong. Their relationship had been so perfect. Until he'd blotted his copybook with Susan, that is. Note: You can also say that there is a blot on your copybook. In fact, just about the only blot on his copybook so far was a missed penalty against Arsenal 10 days ago. Note: In the past, schoolchildren had `copybooks'. These were books of examples of handwriting, with spaces for the children to copy it.

Dishonor to one's reputation.

bringing dishonor or shame to oneself and one's family. “Escutcheon” is the heraldic term for the shield on which a family's coat of arms is painted. One with a blot, in the sense of blemish, would look as though there were something wrong, which is what The phrase is meant to convey. When Uncle Fred was hauled off to jail for embezzlement, he not only disgraced himself, he brought shame to his wife, his children, and any living parents. His crime was thus a metaphorical blot on the family escutcheon.