a bad feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

"a bad feeling" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about a negative emotion that someone is experiencing. For example, "I had a bad feeling about going on that hike."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Books

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's a bad feeling".

The New York Times

It isn't a bad feeling.

The New Yorker

It was not a bad feeling.

The New Yorker

It's not such a bad feeling.

The New Yorker

It was a bad feeling".

The New York Times - Sports

It wasn't such a bad feeling, actually".

The New Yorker

"I got a bad feeling," Keefe mutters.

The New York Times - Books

"It gives you a bad feeling.

The New York Times

I just had a bad feeling".

The New York Times

I have a bad feeling about this.

The Guardian - Sport

It left me with a bad feeling".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a bad feeling" to describe an intuitive sense that something negative is about to occur. It's particularly effective in narratives to create suspense or foreshadow events.

Common error

While "a bad feeling" is a common expression, avoid overusing it in your writing. Vary your descriptions with more specific emotions or sensations to maintain reader engagement. Instead of always saying "I had a bad feeling", try describing physical sensations like "My stomach churned" or "A chill ran down my spine".

Linguistic Context

"A bad feeling" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object of a sentence to denote an intuitive sense of something negative. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts ranging from personal premonitions to professional anxieties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Sports

15%

Books

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a bad feeling" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a sense of unease or premonition, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage is particularly frequent in News & Media and Sports contexts. Alternatives include "a sense of foreboding" or "an uneasy feeling", offering similar but nuanced expressions. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse and consider more specific descriptors for formal contexts. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase serves to communicate subjective apprehension across various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sense of foreboding

Focuses on the feeling that something bad is going to happen.

a premonition of disaster

Highlights an intuitive feeling that a calamity is imminent.

an uneasy feeling

Emphasizes a general sense of discomfort or anxiety.

a gut feeling of dread

Highlights the instinctive and fearful nature of the feeling.

a sinking feeling

Focuses on the disheartening sensation of something going wrong.

a nagging suspicion

Emphasizes a persistent, bothersome feeling that something is amiss.

a strange premonition

Highlights the unusual and intuitive nature of the feeling.

a disturbing intuition

Focuses on the unsettling and instinctive understanding of a situation.

a worrying sensation

Emphasizes the anxious physical and emotional feeling.

an ominous presentiment

Highlights a feeling that threatens or foreshadows evil or tragic events.

FAQs

How can I use "a bad feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "a bad feeling" to describe an intuitive sense that something negative might happen. For example: "I had a bad feeling about the trip, and I was right—we got caught in a storm."

What's the difference between "a bad feeling" and "an uneasy feeling"?

"A bad feeling" often suggests a premonition of something specific going wrong, while "an uneasy feeling" is a more general sense of discomfort or anxiety without a clear cause.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "a bad feeling"?

While generally acceptable, avoid using "a bad feeling" in highly formal or technical contexts where more precise language is expected. Instead, opt for terms that more accurately describe the specific concern.

What can I say instead of "a bad feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "a sense of foreboding", "a premonition of disaster", or "an uneasy feeling" depending on the context.