Русско-англо-русский юридический словарь

Origin of House of Ill Repute

This expression is a euphemism for a brothel, first appearing in the early 18th century. The first published use of this phrase was in John Vanbrugh's 1728 play Journey to London: He was never in London before but one week and then he was kidnapp'd into a House of ill Repute. (Writing Explaned)

He was a gambler, pimp and a brothel owner, arrested three times for "keeping and being found in a house of ill-fame". (Daily Express)