a rotten shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rotten shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is not good at shooting, whether in sports like basketball or in a more general sense of making attempts that fail. Example: "Despite his efforts, he took a rotten shot and missed the target completely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The ill-trained fighters of the Mahdi Army are in fact rotten shots.

The Economist

Trotsky: (hits his shot) What a rotten bounce.

Huffington Post

A rotten crowd!

The New Yorker

Daddock: rotten wood, a rotten log.

The Guardian - Books

A rotten time, overall?

The Guardian - Film

"A rotten world".

The New Yorker

It's a rotten place.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's a rotten combination.

The New Yorker

"It was a rotten system".

The New Yorker

"She's a rotten bitch.

The New Yorker

It's a rotten business".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's poor marksmanship or a failed attempt in sports or other activities, use the phrase "a rotten shot" to clearly convey the idea of inadequacy or failure. Make sure the context aligns with informal or neutral registers, as the term can sound colloquial.

Common error

Avoid using "a rotten shot" in highly formal or professional writing. It can come across as too informal or colloquial. Instead, opt for more professional alternatives like "a poor shot" or "an inaccurate attempt".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rotten shot" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "shot". It describes the quality of the shot, indicating that it was poorly executed or unsuccessful. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rotten shot" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a poorly executed attempt, often in sports or skill-based activities. Ludwig confirms this usage. It is most commonly found in news and media sources, holding a neutral to informal tone. While generally understandable, using more formal alternatives like "poor shot" or "inaccurate attempt" might be more suitable in professional contexts. Understanding the context and desired tone is crucial when deciding to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrible shot

Replaces "rotten" with a more common synonym indicating very poor quality.

a dreadful shot

Substitutes "rotten" with another adjective suggesting something unpleasant and very bad.

a lousy shot

Uses a more informal term, "lousy", to describe the poor quality of the shot.

an awful shot

Replaces "rotten" with a synonym that clearly conveys something negative.

a poor shot

Uses a more general adjective to describe the inadequacy of the shot.

a bad shot

Employs a simple and direct way to describe that the quality of the shot is not good.

an inaccurate shot

Focuses on the lack of precision rather than the overall quality.

a bungled attempt

Shifts from a shot to a more general attempt, indicating failure due to incompetence.

a failed shot

Indicates that the shot did not achieve its intended purpose or outcome.

an incompetent shot

Uses a stronger word to indicate that the shot was performed without the necessary skills.

FAQs

How can I use "a rotten shot" in a sentence?

You can use "a rotten shot" to describe someone's poor performance in shooting or in other activities. For example, "He took "a rotten shot" and missed the target completely".

What does "a rotten shot" mean?

"A rotten shot" means a very bad attempt, often in the context of shooting or sports, suggesting a failure due to poor skill or execution. Alternatives include "a poor shot" or "a failed attempt".

What can I say instead of "a rotten shot"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a terrible shot", "a poor attempt", or "a bad shot".

Is "a rotten shot" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a rotten shot" is more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more professional alternatives such as "an inaccurate shot" or "a poor shot".