Dictionary

bête noire

noun \ˌbet-ˈnwär, ˌbāt-\

: a person or thing that someone dislikes very much

plural bêtes noires \ˌbet-ˈnwär(z), ˌbāt-\

Full Definition of BÊTE NOIRE

:  a person or thing strongly detested or avoided :  bugbear
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Origin of BÊTE NOIRE

French, literally, black beast
First Known Use: 1828

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