a patch of bad weather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a patch of bad weather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a temporary period of unfavorable weather conditions. Example: "Despite the forecast predicting a patch of bad weather, we decided to go ahead with our outdoor plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Artillery and warplane shelling by the regime has increased in and around the city in recent days as a patch of bad weather has cleared.State media, though, told a different story: "terrorists" (the regime's term for the armed opposition) fired two rockets at the building, according to the governor of Aleppo.

The Economist

The ship, which is based in Brooklyn and brings cars and trucks to St. Marc, Haiti, was anchored off Staten Island between the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the ferry terminal, waiting out a patch of bad weather, said an official of Devon Shipping, Inc, which owns the vessel.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Myanmar Television, quoting a government statement, said the Russian-made MI-17 helicopter went down after going through "a sudden patch of bad weather".

The New York Times

He then plans to sit out an expected patch of bad weather in a high-altitude camp before going on to the final two peaks.

BBC

People in Hebden Bridge, Morpeth, North York Moors and dozens of other towns and villages live in fear of the next patch of bad weather and face the prospect of ruined homes without being able to claim for repairs.

The Guardian

Diversification irons out the bumps and removes the risk of a patch of bad luck destroying your capital.

Forbes

Nagasaki was a victim of bad weather, and fate.

Independent

A streak of bad weather and bad racetracks made that decision for him.

The New York Times - Sports

The Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) in Malawi was introduced in the 2005/2006 season against a background of bad weather affecting production and prolonged food shortages.

Food Policy

The vetrovnjak, recorded in parts of western Serbia, fought against a bringer of bad weather imagined as a black bird.

Wikipedia

Wind out of the north -- a year of bad weather.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a patch of bad weather", ensure the context clearly indicates a temporary situation, not a permanent climate condition. For extended periods of unfavorable conditions, consider phrases like "a prolonged period of bad weather".

Common error

Avoid using "a patch of bad weather" to describe long-term climate trends or seasonal weather patterns. The phrase implies a brief, passing phase, not a sustained condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a patch of bad weather" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a limited period characterized by unfavorable atmospheric conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a patch of bad weather" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe a temporary period of unfavorable weather conditions. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable in English. Its function is typically to explain or inform about disruptions caused by these temporary weather conditions. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, with frequent usage in news and media, alternative phrases may be preferred in highly formal settings. Remember, it’s best used to describe short-term situations and not prolonged climate trends.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bout of inclement weather

Replaces "bad" with "inclement" and "patch" with "bout", emphasizing the temporary nature of the unpleasant weather.

a spell of unfavorable weather

Substitutes "bad" with "unfavorable" and "patch" with "spell", providing a more formal tone.

a period of adverse weather

Replaces "patch of bad" with "period of adverse", focusing on the negative impact of the weather.

a run of poor weather

Changes "patch" to "run" and "bad" to "poor", suggesting a sequence of bad weather days.

a phase of rough weather

Uses "phase" instead of "patch" and "rough" in place of "bad", highlighting the intensity of the weather.

a stretch of stormy weather

Emphasizes the stormy nature of the bad weather period.

a spate of severe weather

Replaces "patch" with "spate" and "bad" with "severe", accentuating the intensity and sudden onset of the weather.

a touch of nasty weather

Replaces "patch" with "touch" and "bad" with "nasty", to convey a less formal and milder impact.

some unpleasant weather

Simplifies the phrase using "unpleasant" to replace "patch of bad", focusing on the general discomfort.

difficult weather conditions

Offers a more general and descriptive alternative, focusing on the challenging nature of the weather.

FAQs

How can I use "a patch of bad weather" in a sentence?

You might say, "The outdoor event was postponed due to "a patch of bad weather"" or "We're hoping to finish the hike before "a patch of bad weather" rolls in".

What's a less common synonym for "a patch of bad weather"?

Alternatives include "a bout of inclement weather", "a spell of unfavorable weather", or "a period of adverse weather". These options are less common but maintain a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a patch of bad weather" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, in highly formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "a period of adverse weather" or "unfavorable weather conditions" for a more professional tone.

What does "a patch of bad weather" imply about the duration of the weather?

The phrase implies a temporary or relatively short duration of bad weather, suggesting it is not a prolonged or permanent condition. Alternatives like "a prolonged period of bad weather" are better for describing longer durations.