a lousy shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a lousy shot' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's poor skill or ability in an activity, such as shooting in a sport or aiming a gun. For example: I felt embarrassed after missing the target again - I'm such a lousy shot.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Sonny, swell fellow that he is, also once shot his son Dante point blank in the chest, just as he did A.J. Sonny didn't know at the time that Dante was his kid - he only knew him to be an unarmed police officer at the time that he shot him. Fortunately Sonny is a lousy shot - Dante and A.J. have both survived his murderous impulses).

Huffington Post

"You must be a lousy shot," Eddie said.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

(Platini scored a deflected winner, but Bergreen did a decent job and lamented Platini's "lousy shot" on live TV after the game).

The Guardian - Sport

He seems to have interpreted the report as one more lousy shot at him from the has-beens and second-guessers who shaped his father's notably more successful foreign policy.

The New Yorker

We all know that love is a social issue -- but while all love stories tell us something about our culture, the best ones are driven by the sometimes mystifying motivations of their characters, or, perhaps more accurately, by the vagaries of that lousy shot we call Cupid.

The New York Times

By most American soldiers' accounts, the Iraqis are lousy shots.

The New Yorker

Or maybe the gunmen were just lousy shots.

The New York Times

The traceurs have an incredible way of outrunning bullets, which implies that the French police are lousy shots or that we're not meant to take this seriously.

The New York Times

But I recently stumbled onto something far more useful: apps that take your lousy shots and help you turn them into something ridiculous, bizarre or maybe even beautiful.

The New York Times - Tech

It will start shipping October 22.

TechCrunch

That night, he shot 36 of 63 from the field — fadeaways and dunks were his specialties — and missed only 4 of 32 foul shots, a career game for a lousy free-throw shooter.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lousy shot", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to someone's skill in shooting (e.g., with a gun or in sports) or, metaphorically, to a poor attempt at something.

Common error

Avoid using "a lousy shot" in formal settings where a more professional or nuanced term would be more appropriate. While it can be suitable in casual conversation, it may sound unprofessional or too informal in business or academic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lousy shot" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun 'shot'. It describes the quality of the shot, indicating that it is of poor quality or executed with a lack of skill. Ludwig provides examples from news media illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lousy shot" is an adjectival phrase used to describe a poor or unskilled attempt at shooting or, metaphorically, at any endeavor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources. While generally informal to neutral, the phrase effectively conveys criticism or disapproval. Consider alternative expressions like "a poor shot" or "a dreadful shot" for varying degrees of emphasis and formality. Use this phrase carefully in formal contexts where a more neutral expression may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a dreadful shot

Replaces 'lousy' with 'dreadful', emphasizing the extremely poor quality of the shot.

a poor shot

Substitutes 'lousy' with 'poor', offering a more general term for inadequacy.

a wretched shot

Emphasizes the miserable quality of the shot using 'wretched'.

a terrible shot

Replaces 'lousy' with 'terrible', highlighting the extremely bad nature of the shot.

a bad shot

Uses a simpler term, 'bad', to describe the shot's quality.

a rotten shot

Uses 'rotten' instead of 'lousy' to convey a sense of decay or worthlessness in the quality of the shot.

a measly shot

Focuses on the insignificance or inadequacy of the shot.

a shitty shot

Employs stronger, more vulgar language to express the poor quality of the shot.

a foul shot

While related to shooting, 'foul shot' is specific to basketball, introducing a context shift.

a penalty shot

Introduces the concept of a penalty situation while still implying a shot, slightly altering the context.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lousy shot" to describe someone's poor shooting ability, as in, "He missed the target completely; he's such "a lousy shot"". It can also be used metaphorically to describe a poor attempt at something.

What are some alternatives to saying "a lousy shot"?

Alternatives include "a poor shot", "a terrible shot", or "a dreadful shot". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "a lousy shot" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a lousy shot" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using more professional or neutral terms like "poor skill" or "inadequate ability".

Can "a lousy shot" be used in contexts other than shooting?

Yes, "a lousy shot" can be used metaphorically to describe any poor attempt or failure. For example, "His presentation was "a lousy shot" at winning the contract" indicates that his presentation was a poor attempt and failed to achieve its goal.