breaking bad
Definition
An idiomatic expression meaning to suddenly abandon one's moral compass and start engaging in criminal, reckless, or wildly immoral behavior.
The title of an Emmy-winning TV series (2008-2013) about a mild-mannered chemistry teacher who 'breaks bad' by entering the methamphetamine trade after a cancer diagnosis.
Examples
After decades of folding fitted sheets perfectly, my uncle started breaking bad by joyriding Harleys through the suburbs.
She was the queen of potlucks until she went breaking bad, swapping casseroles for clandestine crypto scams.
The librarian shushed everyone religiously, but pandemic boredom had her breaking bad with underground bingo rackets.
He alphabetized his spice rack obsessively—until one day, breaking bad, he launched a black-market hot sauce empire.