a black mark (against somebody) | meaning of a black mark (against somebody) in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisha black mark (against somebody)a black mark (against somebody)if there is a black mark against you, someone has a bad opinion of you because of something you have done → blackExamples from the Corpusa black mark (against somebody)• It is almost impossible to borrow money if you have any black marks against you.• Irina had put a black mark against him with Rakovsky.• Why is not immediately obvious but sufficiently worrying to put a black mark against the program.• The exam league tables have also been given a black mark by teaching unions.• Incidentally, Willoughby, you've earned yourself a black mark for that little trouble.• You get a black mark next to your name that may show up in your next evaluation.• It would be a good mark, not a black mark.• The outcome will be recorded but the finding does not constitute a black mark on the record of the officer involved.• A mini-breakdown was less of a black mark than a criminal record if he should ever choose to emigrate.