crabby mood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crabby mood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is irritable or in a bad temper. Example: "After a long day at work, she came home in a crabby mood and didn't want to talk to anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

To convey Crankenstein's crabby mood, Santat uses a lot of sickly brown and green.

The New York Times - Books

Princess Profanity puts Pandora pal back in his box Princess Beatrice is in a crabby mood.

Independent

Their recent Amsterdam summit found them in crabby mood, unwilling to make the changes necessary to cope with a Union of 20 or 25 members.

The Economist

High unemployment and fiscal collapse not only keep people in a crabby mood but place Spain next in line after Greece as the economy with the most potential to unravel the European Union.

The New Yorker

Needless to say, Betty is in a crabby mood when Don finally gets around to calling her the next day.

Huffington Post

Even I will scoop her up for a quick cuddle and tension release or I'll plop her in my husband's lap to lighten a crabby mood.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Maybe I was in one of my crabby moods.

The New York Times - Sports

In the hours before the Cardinals National Football Conferencee championship game against the Eagles, she described her husband's mood as "crabby".

The New York Times - Sports

Putting up with my over scheduled sleep deprived life, where I'm often crabby and frequently take my tired cranky mood out on whoever is picking me up or dropping me off somewhere.

HuffPost

We thought you'd be working hard and be really crabby, but you're in such a good mood!" Indeed I was, because I had made a commitment to a single goal, and I no longer had any conflicts.

Huffington Post

That's you, crabby!

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crabby mood" to describe a temporary state of irritability. Avoid overusing it to describe someone's personality, as it can sound judgmental.

Common error

While acceptable in general writing, avoid using "crabby mood" in formal or professional settings. Opt for more neutral or professional terms like "irritable" or "uncooperative" to maintain a respectful and appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crabby mood" functions as a descriptive phrase, where "crabby" modifies the noun "mood". It's used to attribute a specific quality (irritability) to a person's emotional state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crabby mood" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to describe a state of temporary irritability. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct English. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, and while generally neutral in tone, more formal settings might call for alternatives like "irritable disposition". When using the phrase, be mindful of overgeneralizing someone's personality and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey. While frequently is seen in the news and media, use discretion to use it accordingly in formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irritable disposition

Replaces "crabby" with a more formal synonym "irritable" and "mood" with "disposition".

grumpy state

Uses "grumpy" as a more common synonym for "crabby" and "state" instead of "mood".

bad temper

Focuses on the behavioral manifestation of the negative mood rather than the mood itself.

sour mood

Substitutes "crabby" with "sour" to describe the unpleasant mood.

irascible mood

Replaces "crabby" with the more formal "irascible", indicating a tendency to be easily provoked to anger.

testy mood

Uses "testy" as a synonym for "crabby", implying impatience and irritability.

peevish mood

Replaces "crabby" with "peevish", suggesting a fretful or complaining disposition.

cross mood

Employs "cross" as a substitute for "crabby", denoting a state of being annoyed or angry.

unhappy frame of mind

Replaces both "crabby" and "mood" with more descriptive and elaborate terms.

grouchy disposition

Similar to "grumpy state", but uses "grouchy" which implies habitual grumpiness, and "disposition" instead of "mood".

FAQs

How can I use "crabby mood" in a sentence?

You can use "crabby mood" to describe someone who is temporarily irritable or grumpy. For example: "After a long day at work, she was in a "crabby mood" and didn't want to talk to anyone."

What's a more formal alternative to "crabby mood"?

In formal contexts, you can replace "crabby mood" with alternatives like "irritable disposition" or "grumpy state".

Is it appropriate to describe someone's personality as having a "crabby mood"?

While you can use "crabby mood" to describe a temporary state, it's generally better to avoid using it to describe someone's overall personality, as it can be perceived as judgmental. Consider using more nuanced terms to describe their personality traits.

What are some other ways to describe a "crabby mood"?

Other ways to describe a "crabby mood" include "bad temper", "sour mood", or "testy mood", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.