a poor move

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor move" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a decision or action that is considered unwise or disadvantageous. Example: "Investing in that failing company was a poor move on his part."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Perhaps the boss has done something that was a poor move or the boss has failed to deliver on a project," he said.

BBC

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell, a pundit on BBC's Test Match Special during the game, said it was a "poor" move by Sri Lanka.

BBC

Stimson acknowledged retaining Patton was a poor move for public relations but remained confident it was the right decision militarily.

Wikipedia

"As a moral and political matter, this seems to be a poor move that underestimates public disgust with vitriol and the politicization of violence," wrote anti-Trump conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin wrote in the Washington Post.

Vice

McNutt noted that, despite feeling that the episode's description of "Darryl teaches Nellie how to eat a taco" was a poor move on NBC's part, he thought they "could have spent more time with Nellie learning how to eat a taco".

Wikipedia

TM's and HM's are important if you have a Pokemon with a poor Move pool.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And that's a pretty poor move on my end, and especially when festival season is starting to move into full swing.

Vice

"An advanced city," he has proclaimed, "is not a place where the poor move about in cars; rather, it's where even the rich use public transportation". This goes a fair way to explaining the seething frustrations of many American cities, composed in large part of poor people in cars, made ever poorer by their associated costs.

The Guardian

It doesn't take an M.B.A. to realize that omitting instructions is a poor business move.

The New York Times - Tech

When an Air Force pilot inadvertently drops an F-15 into the ocean, that may be a poor career move, but he's not expected to cover the costs out of his paycheck.

The New York Times - Magazine

Certainly the sight of Eden Hazard swapping shirts with Ángel Di María at the interval – such a poor PR move – will not have gone down well given PSG's long-standing interest in the Belgian.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a poor move", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the move and why it is considered disadvantageous. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

While acceptable, "a poor move" may sound informal in highly professional settings. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "a strategic error" or "a detrimental decision" for enhanced impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor move" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes an action or decision considered unwise or disadvantageous. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a poor move" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an action or decision considered unwise or disadvantageous. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media, with secondary usage in Wiki-based articles, suggesting a neutral register. When deploying this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who made the move and why it's deemed "poor", and in formal business environments, consider stronger alternatives for a more impactful tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unwise decision

Focuses on the decision-making aspect, highlighting the lack of wisdom in the choice.

a regrettable action

Emphasizes the feeling of regret associated with the action taken.

an ill-advised step

Suggests a progression or sequence of actions, where one step was not well thought out.

a strategic blunder

Highlights a significant error in planning or strategy.

a misjudgment

Focuses on the incorrect assessment or evaluation of a situation.

a faux pas

Implies a breach of social etiquette or a tactless action.

an unfortunate choice

Emphasizes the negative consequences or bad luck associated with the choice.

a counterproductive measure

Highlights that the action taken had the opposite of the intended effect.

a tactical error

Highlights a mistake in tactical execution within a specific situation or plan.

a risky gamble

Suggests that the action involved a significant degree of risk and uncertainty.

FAQs

How can I use "a poor move" in a sentence?

You can use "a poor move" to describe an action or decision that had negative consequences. For example, "Failing to negotiate the contract was "a poor move" that cost the company millions."

What are some alternatives to saying "a poor move"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "an unwise decision", "a strategic blunder", or "an ill-advised step".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a poor move"?

Yes, "a poor move" is grammatically correct. It uses the indefinite article "a" correctly before the adjective "poor" and the noun "move".

What makes "a poor move" different from "a bad decision"?

While similar, "a poor move" often implies a specific action within a larger strategy or context, whereas "a bad decision" is a more general term for an unfavorable choice. Essentially, "a poor move" is a kind of "a bad decision", but it highlights the tactical error.