Named for Norman Bates, the mentally unstable antagonist of the film Psycho, a Bates is a person who never threatens anyone's life directly, but very obviously gives off the "I'm going to kill you in your sleep and roll around in your blood giggling like a schoolgirl" vibe. A Bates is almost always completely oblivious to the fact that they're a Bates. Also usually very poor at reading hints to leave others alone.
Janet: You know that kid John? He's a total Bates.
Brad: You can say that again, he keeps looking at me like he wants to cut out my liver and eat it raw.
Brad: You can say that again, he keeps looking at me like he wants to cut out my liver and eat it raw.
by lightning_troubadour November 23, 2015