a lousy start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lousy start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unfavorable or disappointing beginning to an event, project, or situation. Example: "The project had a lousy start due to poor planning and miscommunication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

("That would be called a lousy start," Bush said).

The New York Times

Even Mr Bush's supporters concede that he got off to a lousy start.

The Economist

C.C.'s going to have a lousy start.

Huffington Post

She corrected me without malice, but I couldn't help feeling we were off to a lousy start.

Huffington Post

A lousy start by our ace, or a couple of key hitters slumping, can derail a best-of-five or best-of-seven series and lead to the worst of all possible outcomes: No more Yankee baseball until spring training.

Huffington Post

There was a lousy start because 11 rows of three cars each for some reason can't be achieved by this crowd for even one full lap, and only 20 cars finished but there were no serious injuries (Vitor Meira's scary late-race wreck broke two vertebrae in his back but no surgery is necessary and he's moving all his limbs).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Knicks fans and players know the progression: a lousy shooting start begets a lifeless defense, a huge deficit and eventually a stinging loss.

The New York Times - Sports

He suffers from nothing except anxiety about the Orioles' lousy start.

The New Yorker

Although the minimum salary in the major leagues is nearly half a million dollars a year, many players who live their major league lives on the fringe are cost-conscious because they know they are one hitting slump or one lousy start away from being demoted to the minors.

The New York Times - Sports

It is far from clear that he will.In this section Clean, safe and it drives itself Britain's great divide Speed isn't everything Maduro's lousy start Coming, ready or not Reprints Related topics Venezuela Hugo Chavez Nicolas MaduroHenrique Capriles, the centrist who came second in the polls, demands a recount.

The Economist

Mathematical models predict where a new disease might emerge and how it might spread.In this section Clean, safe and it drives itself Britain's great divide Speed isn't everything Maduro's lousy start Coming, ready or not Reprints Related topics Influenza Bird flu United States Medicine ImmunotherapyGoing viralYet all this may not be enough.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event or project, use "a lousy start" to emphasize that initial conditions were significantly worse than expected and negatively impacted subsequent progress.

Common error

Avoid using "a lousy start" when a more forceful expression is needed. While "lousy" indicates something is poor or unpleasant, it doesn't convey extreme severity or disaster. Choose words like "catastrophic" or "disastrous" for more impactful descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lousy start" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It describes the initial phase of an event or process, characterizing it as poor or inadequate. Ludwig confirms its appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lousy start" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe an unfavorable beginning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys disappointment and suggests potential negative consequences. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose alternative expressions like "a poor beginning" or "a bad start" for more formal or nuanced communication. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase adds a touch of informality while remaining widely understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a poor beginning

Replaces "lousy" with "poor" maintaining the same structure and negative connotation.

a bad start

Substitutes "lousy" with "bad", offering a more common and slightly less harsh alternative.

a rocky start

Uses "rocky" to indicate instability and problems at the beginning.

an unfavorable commencement

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey a similar meaning of a negative beginning.

an unfortunate beginning

Highlights the unfortunate nature of the start, emphasizing disappointment.

an inauspicious kickoff

Employs a different metaphor to describe a bad beginning, implying bad luck.

a difficult outset

Focuses on the difficulty of the beginning, suggesting challenges from the very start.

a subpar initiation

Replaces the terms to indicate that the beginning was below average.

a disappointing launch

Uses the term "launch" to indicate the beginning of something and expresses the feeling of disappointment.

a regrettable start

Emphasizes the feeling of regret associated with the beginning.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lousy start" to describe a project, event, or situation that began poorly. For example, "The campaign got "off to a lousy start" due to lack of funding."

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

Alternatives include "a bad start", "a poor beginning", or "an inauspicious start", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

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

While "a lousy start" is widely understood, it may be considered too informal for academic or highly professional contexts. In such cases, alternatives like "a poor beginning" or "an unfavorable commencement" might be more suitable.

What does "a lousy start" imply about the subsequent events?

"A lousy start" suggests that the initial problems or setbacks may have negatively influenced the overall outcome, making it more challenging to recover and achieve the desired results. But it's also possible to recover from "a rough start".