disastrous holidays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disastrous holidays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe vacations or holiday experiences that went very wrong or were highly unfortunate. Example: "After a series of flight cancellations and lost luggage, we can safely say that our trip to the beach turned into a disastrous holiday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

My life has been strewn with the shattered hulls of disastrous holidays.

The Guardian - Travel

We need letters describing disastrous holidays, such as the couple who visit Holland to see the bulb fields.

The Guardian - Books

Your date doesn't want to hear about the rows and infidelities, disastrous holidays, forgotten birthdays and thoughtless gifts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was a disastrous holiday.

Independent

We had a disastrous holiday in Sicily when Oli was 18 months old.

The Guardian - Travel

But I've always had disastrous holiday romances in the past.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Still, Mr. Brown said, "Christmas '09 as a whole was actually an improvement from last year's disastrous holiday season".

The New York Times

"If it hadn't been for the final surge, I think it would've been a disastrous holiday".

The New York Times

In "Last Evenings on Earth", B (presumably Belano) goes on a disastrous holiday to Acapulco with his father.

The Guardian - Books

It isn't the moment for consuming conspicuously, and that is a terrible problem for retailers, who are still reeling from the disastrous holiday season.

The New Yorker

"I set the business up in 2006, following a near disastrous holiday in 2005 to France with my husband, son and baby daughter.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about travel experiences, use "disastrous holidays" to emphasize a series of unfortunate events that significantly impacted the vacation. It's stronger than simply saying the holiday was 'bad'.

Common error

Avoid using "disastrous holidays" for minor inconveniences. Save it for situations where the holiday was genuinely ruined by a series of significant problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disastrous holidays" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "disastrous" modifies the noun "holidays". It describes the quality of the holidays as being extremely negative or unfortunate. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disastrous holidays" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase in the English language used to describe exceptionally negative holiday experiences. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for neutral contexts, particularly within news and media. While its current frequency is rare, its clear meaning ensures effective communication when recounting or describing troublesome vacation experiences. When using the phrase, be mindful of the level of negativity you want to convey and make sure the experience justifies its use, perhaps considering alternatives such as "unfortunate vacations".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catastrophic vacations

Replaces "disastrous" with "catastrophic", emphasizing the extreme negative outcome of the holidays.

horrendous holidays

Replaces "disastrous" with "horrendous", intensifying the negative feeling associated with the holidays.

terrible vacations

Substitutes "disastrous" with "terrible", indicating a bad experience during the holidays.

miserable vacations

Replaces "disastrous" with "miserable", focusing on the unhappiness experienced during the vacations.

awful trips

Uses "awful" instead of "disastrous" and "trips" instead of "holidays", denoting an unpleasant travel experience.

calamitous trips

Employs "calamitous" in place of "disastrous" to suggest a significant and unfortunate event during the trips.

ill-fated getaways

Replaces both words to create a more literary description of trips that were destined for failure.

unfortunate vacations

Substitutes "disastrous" with "unfortunate", highlighting the unlucky nature of the holiday experience.

failed holidays

Uses "failed" instead of "disastrous", directly indicating the unsuccessful nature of the vacation.

unsuccessful holidays

Substitutes "disastrous" with "unsuccessful", simply stating that the holidays did not achieve their intended purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "disastrous holidays" in a sentence?

You can use "disastrous holidays" to describe vacations filled with unfortunate events. For example: "Our trip was a string of "disastrous holidays", complete with lost luggage and terrible weather."

What are some alternatives to "disastrous holidays"?

Alternatives include "catastrophic vacations", "terrible vacations", or "awful trips", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "disastrous holidays" too negative to use in travel writing?

While negative, "disastrous holidays" can be effective if used accurately and sparingly. It's important to balance honesty with constructive feedback or humor to maintain reader engagement. Consider alternatives like "unfortunate vacations" if you prefer a milder term.

What makes a holiday "disastrous"?

A holiday becomes "disastrous" when significant and unexpected problems accumulate, negatively impacting the overall experience. This could include travel mishaps, accommodation issues, health problems, or unforeseen circumstances that derail the original plans. A mildly "unsuccessful holidays", for instance, would not meet such drastic criteria.