a nasty idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a nasty idea" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a thought or suggestion that is unpleasant, offensive, or morally questionable. Example: "While brainstorming solutions, someone proposed a nasty idea that left everyone feeling uncomfortable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This was indeed a nasty idea.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That was a nasty thought".

The New York Times

Don't let your parents get any nasty ideas about what you could be doing.

WikiHow

Jacob Weisberg of Slate pounded Mr. Thiel over his "nasty" idea, which he argued is "diverting a generation of young people from the love of knowledge for its own sake and respect for middle-class values".

The New York Times

The applicant countries have bitter experience of such experiments.CHRISTOPHER BEAZLEYMEPBrusselsSIR Your draft constitution is disappointing in many respects but the really nasty idea is to subordinate the European Commission to the Council of Ministers.

The Economist

"A nice man is a man of nasty ideas," he wrote.

The New York Times - Style

To avoid legal restrictions and overcome a climate in which anti-Semitism has become unacceptable, extremists are looking for new means to disseminate their nasty ideas and their rewriting of history.

The Economist

He isn't claiming that Islamist oddballs like Choudary are waging a justified struggle against western racism and imperialism (as the aforementioned professor might say) but is instead trying to draw attention to the draconian potential inherent in legislating against the expression of ideas – dangerous and nasty ideas, but ideas nonetheless.

Independent

He continues that the way to cover "nasty people with nasty ideas" is to "give them all the rope they want and then hang them with it every time they practice what they preach".

BBC

Before I went, I had these nasty ideas from The Perfect Storm and Jaws.

Huffington Post

As this latest Essential poll shows, polite, middle class people are totally capable of subscribing to nasty ideas in large numbers.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a nasty idea" when you want to express strong disapproval or disgust towards a plan, suggestion, or thought. It's suitable for conveying both moral and aesthetic objections.

Common error

While effective in many situations, "a nasty idea" can sound overly informal or emotional in professional or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "an unfavorable proposal" or "an impractical suggestion" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a nasty idea" functions as a noun phrase, where "nasty" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "idea". It denotes a concept or plan considered unpleasant or morally objectionable. Ludwig confirms its validity and appropriate use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a nasty idea" is a valid and usable English phrase, typically employed to express strong disapproval or disgust towards a concept or plan. While grammatically correct, its register leans towards neutral to informal, making it less suitable for certain formal contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase effectively conveys negative connotations, though alternative phrases like "an unfavorable proposal" or "a distasteful concept" may be preferred in professional or academic settings. Its usage is most common in news and media but also found in wikis and business contexts. Therefore, while effective in conveying disapproval, writers should consider the tone and audience when employing the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unpleasant thought

Replaces 'nasty' with 'unpleasant', softening the tone slightly.

a distasteful concept

Substitutes 'nasty' with 'distasteful' and 'idea' with 'concept', emphasizing a sense of aversion.

an awful notion

Uses 'awful' instead of 'nasty' and 'notion' in place of 'idea', heightening the negative feeling.

a terrible suggestion

Replaces 'idea' with 'suggestion', focusing on the proposition rather than the thought itself, and substitutes 'nasty' with 'terrible'.

a vile scheme

Employs 'vile' and 'scheme' for a stronger, more malicious connotation.

an offensive proposal

Switches to 'offensive' to highlight the morally objectionable nature of the 'proposal'.

a revolting plan

Replaces 'nasty' with 'revolting' and 'idea' with 'plan', emphasizing disgust.

an abhorrent concept

Utilizes 'abhorrent' and 'concept' to convey strong disapproval.

a dreadful proposition

Uses 'dreadful' to emphasize the negative feeling and 'proposition' to focus on the suggested course of action.

a ghastly thought

Replaces 'nasty' with 'ghastly', giving it a more horrifying feel.

FAQs

How can I use "a nasty idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a nasty idea" to describe a plan or suggestion that is unpleasant or morally objectionable. For example, "The suggestion to cut funding for schools was "a nasty idea"."

What's a more formal way to say "a nasty idea"?

If you want to sound more formal, consider using phrases like "an unfavorable proposal", "an impractical suggestion", or "a misguided concept" instead of ""a nasty idea"".

Is "a nasty idea" appropriate for business communication?

In business communication, it's often better to use more neutral language. Instead of saying ""a nasty idea"", try "an ill-advised plan" or "a problematic strategy".

What's the difference between "a bad idea" and "a nasty idea"?

"A bad idea" generally refers to a plan that is simply ineffective or unlikely to succeed. "A nasty idea", on the other hand, implies something more offensive, unpleasant, or morally questionable.