a lousy job

USAGE SUMMARY

"a lousy job" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was done poorly or not up to an expected standard of quality. For example: "The mechanic did a lousy job repairing my car; it's worse than when I brought it in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"We've done a lousy job of counterpunching".

The New York Times

Alas, they made a lousy job of it.

The Economist

Unfortunately, it is making a lousy job of the task.

The Economist

"The man who portrayed Jim did a lousy job.

The New York Times

"We're doing a lousy job with pop music," he said.

The New Yorker

In short, a hedge-fund manager can do a lousy job and still become very wealthy.

The New Yorker

"We've done a lousy job of teaching civics in the country," she said.

The New York Times

It was seriously a lousy job and an even lousier summer.

The New York Times - Books

"We've done a lousy job in government," says a senior MDC man.

The Economist

Both were doing a lousy job, Mr. Putin said, in the era of new security threats.

The New York Times

Some are built solely for printing photographs but do a lousy job on text.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lousy job", consider the audience and context. While widely understood, it's relatively informal. In professional settings, consider more formal alternatives such as "substandard performance" or "inadequate execution".

Common error

Avoid using "a lousy job" in highly formal or academic writing. While its meaning is clear, its informal tone can undermine the credibility and professionalism of your work. Opt for more sophisticated and precise vocabulary to convey the same idea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lousy job" functions as a noun phrase, where "lousy" modifies the noun "job". It typically serves to describe the quality of work performed, indicating that it was done poorly. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lousy job" is a common phrase used to describe work that is of poor quality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While widely understood, it is relatively informal and may not be suitable for highly professional or academic contexts. More formal alternatives include "substandard performance" or "inadequate execution". Its frequency is high, particularly in news and media, where it's used to express dissatisfaction or criticism. Understanding the context and audience is key to using this phrase effectively. Always consider a more sophisticated and precise vocabulary to convey the same idea when a formal tone is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrible performance

Replaces "lousy job" with a more formal description of the work's quality.

a deficient performance

Focuses on the lack of necessary qualities or skills in the performance.

a poor piece of work

Focuses on the resulting product as being of low quality.

a substandard effort

Emphasizes the failure to meet the required standards.

an inadequate execution

Highlights the insufficiency of the implementation or carrying out of a task.

a second-rate job

Emphasizes the job's inferiority and lack of quality compared to better alternatives.

a botched attempt

Stresses the failure and clumsiness of the effort.

a slipshod piece of work

Highlights the carelessness and lack of attention to detail in the task.

a half-baked job

Suggests the job was incomplete or poorly planned from the start.

a lamentable undertaking

Indicates that the work is regrettable and disappointing.

FAQs

How can I use "a lousy job" in a sentence?

You can use "a lousy job" to describe something that was done poorly. For example, "The contractor did "a lousy job" on the renovation, and now the roof leaks."

What's a more formal way to say "a lousy job"?

If you need a more formal expression, consider using phrases like "substandard performance", "inadequate execution", or "deficient work".

What does it mean when someone says "That was a lousy job"?

Saying "That was "a lousy job"" means the person thinks the work done was of very poor quality or was executed badly.

Is it appropriate to use "a lousy job" in a business email?

While understandable, ""a lousy job"" might be too informal for most business emails. Consider using phrases such as "the performance was below expectations" or "the work did not meet the required standards" for a more professional tone.