a foul looking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a foul looking" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be used as "foul-looking" with a hyphen to describe something that appears unpleasant or disgusting. Example: "The foul-looking creature emerged from the shadows, sending shivers down my spine."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And Diaw's final foul looked questionable, certainly to the Bobcats, who howled in protest when the call was made.

The New York Times - Sports

Signs you're participating in road rage include: Foul looks, glaring in the rear vision mirror.

WikiHow

Davinson Sánchez was lucky to escape with a warning from the referee, Bobby Madley, for a foul that looked worthy of a second yellow card when he scythed down Martin Olsson on the edge of the area and it was no surprise Pochettino soon took him off.

The Guardian - Sport

Two fissures in the broken-tiled concrete floor are filled with a foul-looking liquid, bubbling gloopily.

The Guardian

The dream was a foul-looking box with an incoherent layout surrounded by concrete steps and dressed in asbestos shingles and aluminum siding.

The New York Times

My own recent tinned finds include: squid in its own ink, smoked oysters, kimchi (chilli-spiced fermented Korean cabbage), courgette flowers, pork brains in gravy, Chinese red bean curd, and Mexican corn smut (a foul-looking edible fungus that grows on the sweetcorn husk).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She filled the little ceramic pipe from the big bowl of ganja sitting on the mattress and handed the pipe to me with a look that said, "Smoke it and shut the fuck up!" I was out of beer, and Patti hadn't been to the bank for a while unfortunately, that day she had spent the last of her cash on groceries to make couscous, a foul-looking concoction, for a late lunch.

Vice

Also, with voters in a foul mood and looking for new direction, the Cuomo name could be a liability, especially outside Metropolitan New York.

Forbes

These guys cruise around the sewers in barges atop a foul brown river looking for accumulated "shit dams" that could clog the ancient system.

Vice

Southampton centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Jose Fonte coped consistently with the hosts' long balls and throw-ins - though the former might have been fortunate not to be sent off for a foul when he looked to be the last man.

BBC

Updated at 2.42pm BST 2.38pm BST USA 12 - Lithuania 6, 7 10, 1st Quarter Russell Westbrook immediately picks up a foul too, this is looking like a repeat from the game against France.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something with a negative appearance, use the hyphenated form "foul-looking" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a foul looking" without a hyphen. This error makes your writing appear unprofessional and grammatically incorrect. Always use "foul-looking" to link the adjectives and ensure proper phrasing.

Linguistic Context

Adjectival Phrase: The phrase functions as an adjective modifying a noun. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, the unhyphenated form is grammatically incorrect. The correct adjectival form is "foul-looking".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a foul looking" is grammatically incorrect and should be written as "foul-looking" with a hyphen. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue. The phrase serves to describe something with an unpleasant or offensive appearance. While the individual words aren't inherently formal, its use is generally found in informal contexts. Using the correct hyphenated form enhances clarity and professionalism in writing. Consider alternatives like "unpleasant looking" or "disgusting looking" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foul-looking

This corrects the grammatical error by adding a hyphen to create a compound adjective.

unpleasant-looking

This provides a synonymous adjective to describe something unattractive or disagreeable in appearance.

disgusting-looking

This uses a stronger adjective to describe something that evokes revulsion.

revolting in appearance

This uses a more formal phrase to describe something highly offensive or disgusting.

repulsive-looking

This offers another synonym to describe something that causes intense distaste or aversion.

nasty looking

This phrase uses an informal adjective to describe something unpleasant.

offensive in appearance

This indicates something is displeasing or disagreeable to look at.

ugly looking

This employs a basic adjective to describe a lack of aesthetic appeal.

unattractive in appearance

This uses a more polite or indirect way to describe something not pleasing to the eye.

grisly-looking

This term suggests a horrifying or ghastly appearance.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "foul-looking" in a sentence?

To use "foul-looking" correctly, ensure it modifies a noun as a compound adjective. For example: "The foul-looking creature emerged from the shadows."

Is it grammatically correct to say "a foul looking"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "foul-looking", with a hyphen. Using "a foul looking" without the hyphen is considered an error in standard written English.

What can I say instead of "a foul looking" to describe something?

You can use alternatives like "unpleasant looking", "disgusting looking", or "repulsive looking" to describe something that appears unpleasant.

What is the difference between "a foul looking" and "foul-looking"?

"A foul looking" is grammatically incorrect. "Foul-looking" is the correct form, using a hyphen to create a compound adjective that describes something with an unpleasant or offensive appearance.