a terrible cook

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terrible cook" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is not skilled at cooking or consistently produces poor-quality food. Example: "Despite her enthusiasm for trying new recipes, she is still a terrible cook and often burns her meals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"I started cooking very young because I loved food and my mom was a terrible cook.

Los Angeles Times

I'm a terrible cook.

The New York Times - Books

His mother was a terrible cook.

The New York Times - Books

There was one huge problem—I was a terrible cook.

The New Yorker

There was one huge problem — I was a terrible cook.

The New Yorker

I'm a terrible cook – I'm like Wendy Craig in Butterflies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

She's a self-declared "terrible cook".

Huffington Post

If you think you're a terrible dancer, cook, knitter, or writer, try spending one hour a week on this act.

WikiHow

Find ideas from the The Guardian's recipe search and oodles of simple recipes from Cupcakerecipe.co.uk/ and bbcgoodfood.com If you are terrible cook try Jamie Oliver's famous Mars Bar cake – there is actually no cooking involved whatsoever.

The Guardian - Money

Terrible cook?

WikiHow

Whether we're working Mom's, terrible cooks, or feeling a little resentment towards that baby weight.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a terrible cook", ensure the context is clear and the severity matches the situation. Consider using it in a humorous or self-deprecating way to lighten the tone.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the cooking inability unless the context warrants it. Using less harsh terms like "an inexperienced cook" or "a struggling cook" can be more appropriate in certain situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrible cook" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, where "terrible" is an adjective modifying the noun "cook". It's used to characterize someone's cooking abilities negatively, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a terrible cook" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone lacking skill in cooking. Ludwig AI confirms its regular usage across various contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, it's important to consider the social context when using it, opting for milder alternatives if necessary. The most frequent contexts are News & Media and Wiki, with notable mentions in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an awful cook

Replaces "terrible" with "awful", a synonym with similar negative connotation.

a dreadful cook

Substitutes "terrible" with "dreadful", implying a higher degree of incompetence.

a hopeless cook

Uses "hopeless" to suggest a lack of ability and potential for improvement.

a bad cook

Employs "bad" as a simpler, more direct synonym for "terrible".

a lousy cook

Replaces "terrible" with the informal term "lousy", indicating poor quality.

an unskilled cook

Focuses on the lack of skill as the primary issue.

an incompetent cook

Uses a more formal term, "incompetent", to highlight the lack of ability.

a poor cook

Utilizes "poor" as a general term for lacking skill or quality in cooking.

a disastrous cook

Emphasizes the negative results of the cooking attempts.

a culinary disaster

Shifts from describing the person to describing the result of their cooking.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying someone is "a terrible cook"?

You can use alternatives like "an awful cook", "a dreadful cook", or "an incompetent cook" to describe someone's lack of culinary skills.

Is it appropriate to call someone "a terrible cook"?

It depends on the context and your relationship with the person. While grammatically correct, the phrase "a terrible cook" can be harsh. Consider using milder terms if you want to be more polite or gentle.

How can I use the phrase "a terrible cook" in a sentence?

You might say, "Despite her enthusiasm, she remains "a terrible cook", often burning simple dishes" or "He admitted to being "a terrible cook", preferring takeout over home-cooked meals."

What's the difference between "a bad cook" and "a terrible cook"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of cooking skill, ""a terrible cook"" suggests a greater degree of incompetence or consistently poor results compared to "a bad cook".