a dreadful shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dreadful shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a poor performance in shooting, whether in sports like basketball or in photography. Example: "Despite his practice, he took a dreadful shot that missed the target completely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

9.15pm GMT 69 min: Callejon flicks the ball round the corner down the right for Higuain, who is in space in the area but bangs a dreadful shot miles over the bar for three rugby points.

The Guardian - Sport

Called on to help steer England through to the close after an Australia declaration left England a target of 561, he once again got out to a dreadful shot as he was caught at deep square leg off Mitchell Johnson.

BBC

Steve Smith might have been out four times during his innings of 89, and finally perished playing a dreadful shot, but the fact he was able to hang around as long as he did owed much to Clarke's example.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Van Gaal, clearly unenthused by the team's display, cannot have missed another limited performance from Wayne Rooney, most notable for a fairly dreadful shot when Anthony Martial's quick feet and directness gave him a chance after 20 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Why did he let it go with plenty of time on the shot clock while he was suffering through a dreadful shooting night?

The New York Times - Sports

That's a dreadful stroke.

The Guardian - Sport

O.K., so we know we're inconsistent, but here's the thing: many average golfers also follow up one dreadful shot with an equally dreadful shot.

The New York Times

A dreadful drop shot from the baseline put the American 2-5 down.

The Guardian - Sport

The final frame was a belter and could prove crucial, with Hawkins throwing away the chance to go to bed only a frame down with a dreadful safety shot on the final black.

The Guardian - Sport

Dreadful shot.

The Guardian - Sport

"All his discipline of the first three tests disappeared - out to two dreadful shots in this match".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a dreadful shot", ensure the context clearly indicates the sport or activity being referenced. Providing specific details about why the shot was dreadful (e.g., missed the target, lacked power) will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid pairing "a dreadful shot" with overly simplistic or clichéd descriptions like "it went wide" without providing more insightful commentary. Instead, offer a more nuanced explanation of the technical flaws or strategic errors that contributed to the poor shot.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dreadful shot" functions as a noun phrase where "dreadful" modifies the noun "shot". It serves to describe the quality of a shot, typically in a sporting context, indicating that it was executed poorly. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase describes poor performance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a dreadful shot" is used to describe a notably poor shot, most commonly in sports-related contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, it is effectively used in journalistic and informal settings to convey disappointment or criticism. Semantically similar alternatives include "a terrible shot" and "an awful shot". When employing this phrase, clarity can be enhanced by providing specific details about the shot's shortcomings to avoid clichéd or overly simplistic descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrible shot

Replaces "dreadful" with "terrible", a synonym with very similar connotations of poor quality.

an awful shot

Substitutes "dreadful" with "awful", another synonym that emphasizes the negative quality of the shot.

a pathetic shot

Uses "pathetic" instead of "dreadful", highlighting the inadequacy and weakness of the shot.

a disastrous shot

Replaces "dreadful" with "disastrous", emphasizing the extremely negative outcome or consequences of the shot.

a woeful shot

Uses "woeful" in place of "dreadful", conveying a sense of lamentable inadequacy.

a shocking shot

Substitutes "dreadful" with "shocking", suggesting that the poor quality of the shot was surprising or unexpected.

a horrendous shot

Replaces "dreadful" with "horrendous", indicating an extremely unpleasant or shocking shot.

a miserable shot

Uses "miserable" instead of "dreadful", suggesting that the shot was of very poor quality and caused disappointment.

a rotten shot

Substitutes "dreadful" with "rotten", an informal term implying the shot was completely useless or bad.

a lamentable shot

Replaces "dreadful" with "lamentable", indicating that the shot was regrettable and disappointing.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a dreadful shot"?

You can use alternatives like "a terrible shot", "an awful shot", or "a pathetic shot" depending on the context.

How to use "a dreadful shot" in a sentence?

You can use "a dreadful shot" to describe a poor performance in a sport or activity, such as "Despite his practice, he took a dreadful shot that missed the target completely".

Is "a dreadful shot" formal or informal?

"A dreadful shot" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly towards informal usage due to the subjective nature of the adjective "dreadful".

What's the difference between "a dreadful shot" and "a poor shot"?

"A dreadful shot" implies a more severe level of inadequacy or failure than "a poor shot". "Dreadful" suggests that the shot was exceptionally bad, while "poor" simply indicates that it was below average.