Bête noire is a phrase assimilated from the French, literally meaning "black beast." It refers to someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one's existence.

"By an application of the theory of relativity to the taste of readers, to-day in Germany I am called a German man of science, and in England I am represented as a Swiss Jew. If I come to be regarded as a bête noire the descriptions will be reversed, and I shall become a Swiss Jew for the Germans and a German man of science for the English!" —Albert Einstein (1879–1955), from the article "Einstein on His Theory" (The Times, London, 28 November 1919)

Bête Noire is also the title of a solo album by Bryan Ferry, formerly of the rock group Roxy Music.