a poor reception

USAGE SUMMARY

"a poor reception" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a negative response or reaction to something, such as an event, performance, or idea. For example, "The new policy received a poor reception from the employees." Alternative expressions include "a negative response" and "a lukewarm reception."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Again, the governor received a poor reception.

The New York Times

Cech's muted return The Chelsea legend got a bit of a poor reception by his former supporters.

Independent

But does it upset Robbe-Grillet that his film got such a poor reception in his homeland?

The Guardian - Film

In the meantime, Clinton all but assured a poor reception for the bill by allowing it to be leaked to the Washington Post before formally briefing lawmakers.

The New Yorker

The sequel marks a return to Imax-friendly cinema for Emmerich, whose passion project Stonewall received a poor reception upon release last year.

The Guardian - Film

Wright's most recent published novel, The Long Dream (1958), had had a poor reception, with critics repeating the charge that he was out of touch with the subject matter that paradoxically most inspired him, the "Negro problem".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In May of 2012 it released its Axis browsing tool, which met with a fairly poor reception in the press.

TechCrunch

She next played Mary Stuart in John Ford's Mary of Scotland (1936), which met with a similarly poor reception.

Wikipedia

It even made Wikipedia's page for video games that received a notably poor reception, alongside such extraordinary dog shit as Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing and Superman 64.

Vice

These plans received a generally poor reception in the press; one critic had no doubt that "if [the] scheme be attempted in its present form... the chances are ten to one that he will... uselessly throw his own and perhaps others' lives away".

Wikipedia

Different phones also get different reception, so you could have a carrier with really good service, but a phone with poor reception and sound quality!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a poor reception" when you want to describe how an audience, critic, or group of people initially reacted to a new idea, product, or performance in a way that suggests disappointment or disapproval. It is particularly effective in professional journalism and academic writing to remain objective while reporting on failure.

Common error

Avoid using "a poor reception" in technical reports without clarifying whether you mean signal quality or user feedback. If you are referring to a mobile signal, specify 'poor signal reception' to prevent readers from thinking the product itself was disliked by the public.

Linguistic Context

In English, "a poor reception" functions as a noun phrase consisting of an indefinite article, an adjective, and a noun. It typically acts as the direct object of verbs like 'receive', 'get', 'meet with', or 'have'. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its flexibility in describing both qualitative feedback and technical signal strength.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a poor reception" is a highly versatile and grammatically standard noun phrase used to denote a negative or weak response. Whether describing a politician's speech, a movie's release, or a failing television signal, it serves as a reliable descriptor across various levels of formality. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread presence in top-tier publications, noting that while it is most frequent in News & Media, it retains validity in Science and Academia. Writers should be mindful of context to ensure readers distinguish between social feedback and technical signal issues. When looking for alternatives, consider the specific nuances of a "lukewarm reception" for indifference or a "hostile reception" for active opposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative response

Generalizes the reaction beyond the initial meeting or viewing.

unfavorable reaction

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe a lack of approval.

lukewarm reception

Suggests a mild or indifferent response rather than a strictly negative one.

cool reception

Implies a lack of enthusiasm or a somewhat unfriendly welcome.

hostile reception

Indicates a much stronger, more aggressive level of rejection.

chilly response

Metaphorically describes a lack of warmth or approval in the reaction.

critical backlash

Specifically refers to strong negative reactions from experts or the public.

frosty welcome

Often used in interpersonal or social contexts to describe cold treatment.

lackluster debut

Focuses on the quality of a first appearance being unimpressive.

mixed reception

Indicates that the response contained both positive and negative elements.

FAQs

How to use "a poor reception" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun phrase to describe reactions, such as: 'The film received "a poor reception" from critics during its opening weekend.'

What can I say instead of "a poor reception"?

Depending on the intensity, you could use a "negative response" for general situations or a "lukewarm reception" if the reaction was simply unenthusiastic.

Which is better, "a poor reception" or "unfavorable reaction"?

Both are correct, but an "unfavorable reaction" sounds slightly more formal and is often used in scientific or corporate reports, whereas the query phrase is more common in media.

Does "a poor reception" always refer to people's opinions?

No. While Ludwig AI shows many examples of social reactions, it can also refer to physical signals, like a television having "a poor reception" due to a bad antenna.