bad bout of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad bout of" is not correct or usable in written English.
You could instead use the phrase "bad case of" to convey a similar meaning. For example: She had a bad case of the flu that lasted for two weeks.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Is it a report of a bad bout of traveler's tummy?

The New York Times - Arts

Then he had a bad bout of colic that needed surgery and ended his season.

The Guardian - Sport

Hi, so glad exercise is helpful for you but for me exercise can REALLY trigger a bad bout of horrible cramping and explosive diarrhea.

Harvard University

Just as the Irish suffered a bad bout of irrational exuberance in the boom years, they have now been overcome by excessive pessimism.

The Economist

To many he had not seemed the same horse since suffering a bad bout of colic over the winter and his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, acknowledged as much.

Independent

A bad bout of flu could result in missing almost 20 percent of classes that last no more than 36 teaching days.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

With 3.2 million residents and 1.8m cars, Madrid often suffers from bad bouts of pollution.

The Guardian

When I was a child in the early 1970s, I suffered many bad bouts of asthma-related illness.

Huffington Post

Of course, a solid company can recover from a bad bout and restore itself to glory.

Forbes

Kobe even made Kim feel bad bout that dunk.

Huffington Post

She was a single mother, overweight and carnivorous, who had turned her life around after a bad divorce, a bout of depression, money woes, and a cancer scare, by following a program of holistic healing and chiropraxis.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For more informal writing, bad bout of can be replaced by "bad patch of"

Common error

Avoid using "bad bout of" in formal or academic writing. It might be perceived as too colloquial. Opt for stronger, more precise vocabulary to describe the situation. A more suitable option could be "serious case of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad bout of" functions as a descriptive phrase, often modifying a noun to indicate a negative experience or episode. It's commonly used to describe health issues, emotional states, or periods of misfortune. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bad bout of" is frequently used to describe a temporary period of experiencing something negative, such as illness or misfortune. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and suggests using more formal alternatives like "serious case of" or "severe episode of", especially in professional or academic writing. While common in news and media, remember that adopting more precise and grammatically sound phrasing can improve clarity and credibility in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe episode of

Replaces "bad" with "severe", emphasizing the intensity of the episode.

serious case of

Emphasizes the severity of the condition or event, replacing "bout" with "case".

bad patch of

Uses "patch" as a synonym for "bout", implying a temporary phase of difficulty.

unfortunate incident of

Uses "unfortunate incident" to soften the negative connotation while maintaining the sense of an event.

rough spell of

Offers a more colloquial alternative to "bad bout", suggesting a limited duration.

tough period of

Substitutes "bout" with "period", focusing on the duration of the difficulty.

bad run of

Uses "run" to imply a sequence of negative events or experiences.

difficult time with

Replaces the noun-focused phrase with a more active and personal experience.

negative turn of events

Highlights the unexpected and adverse nature of the situation.

negative experience with

Replaces the medical connotation with a general term for an unpleasant event.

FAQs

What does "bad bout of" mean?

The phrase "bad bout of" generally refers to a short period of experiencing something negative, such as an illness, emotion, or event. It implies a temporary but unpleasant experience.

What can I say instead of "bad bout of"?

You can use alternatives like ""serious case of"", "severe episode of", or "unfortunate incident of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "bad bout of"?

While commonly used, the phrase "bad bout of" is considered grammatically incorrect. Alternatives such as ""serious case of"" are more grammatically sound.

In what contexts is "bad bout of" most appropriate?

The phrase "bad bout of" is more appropriate in informal contexts. For professional or academic settings, consider alternatives that offer greater precision and grammatical correctness.