dismal double

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dismal double" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that is particularly bleak or disappointing, often involving two elements or aspects. Example: "The team's performance this season has been a dismal double, with both their offense and defense failing to meet expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Murray is sitting pretty at 30-0 and then produces two dismal double-faults.

The Guardian - Sport

He gets his head back in the game to save the first but then removes his head from the game and inserts it where the sun don't shine by serving a dismal double-fault.

The Guardian - Sport

In keeping with the nature of this final, it was Williams who almost bust, going match point down with the most dismal of double-faults at 4-5.

Independent

McIlroy's dismal round included a double hit on 15, something he reported to a rules official and resulted in a one-stroke penalty.

BBC

The Pentagon budget rose by Bushian increments in fiscal year 2010; and while the Iraq War reached a kind of dismal stasis, the new president doubled down in Afghanistan on entering office -- and then doubled down again before the end of 2009.

Huffington Post

With sales of clothing, electronics, luxury goods and more down by double digits in the dismal economy, these loss leaders are more important than ever, analysts said.

The New York Times

Shumpert may have shot 4 for 14, but his 12 points made him the only Syracuse player in double figures in a dismal shooting game in which Kentucky shot 40percentt and the Orangemen shot 32percentt.

The New York Times - Sports

But according to one early report, the number of shoppers declined by double digits this year, auguring a dismal holiday season for retailers when the final numbers come in next month.

The New York Times

PAGE B10 BUSINESS RETAILERS KICK OFF HOLIDAYS With Double-Digit Declines The nation's retailers had a dismal November, kicking off the holiday shopping season with double-digit declines across a broad spectrum of stores.

The New York Times

In other words, in just one year fuel prices have doubled, which, combined with other dismal economic factors here in the U.S., stretches the family budget as thin as it's ever been in recent years.

TechCrunch

DuPont has been hit with a double whammy: falling commodity prices and dismal sales of houses, cars and electronics.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "dismal double", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as both dismal and doubled, providing specific details to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify the two aspects contributing to the negative situation.

Common error

Avoid using "dismal double" vaguely. Instead of saying "The project was a dismal double", clarify what two elements made it so: "The project was a dismal double, plagued by both budget overruns and missed deadlines."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dismal double" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied or stated noun. It describes something as being both unpleasant or depressing and occurring in two parts or aspects. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing events or performances.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dismal double" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as Ludwig AI confirms, though its usage is infrequent. It functions as an adjectival phrase to describe a situation marked by two negative aspects. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to emphasize the depth of disappointment. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the two elements contributing to the negative outcome. While accurate, consider alternatives like "depressing dyad" or "bleak twosome" to enhance variety and semantic precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depressing dyad

Replaces "dismal" with "depressing" and "double" with "dyad", emphasizing the two-part nature of the disappointment.

dreary duo

Replace dismal with dreary but retain the idea of pairing

bleak twosome

Substitutes "dismal" with "bleak" and "double" with "twosome", focusing on a grim pairing.

terrible tandem

Uses "terrible" instead of "dismal" and "tandem" instead of "double" to describe a bad combination.

awful coupling

Replaces "dismal" with "awful" and "double" with "coupling", emphasizing a negative combination.

gloomy duplication

Replaces "dismal" with "gloomy" and "double" with "duplication", highlighting the replication of something unfavorable.

grim duplication

Substitute dismal for grim, focusing on negativity

disastrous doubling

Focus on the aspect of disastrous effect of doubling negative aspects

unfortunate pair

Expresses the negative sentiment by calling it "unfortunate" but doesn't necessarily imply a doubling.

catastrophic combination

Replace dismal with catastrophic to exaggerate negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "dismal double" in a sentence?

Use "dismal double" to describe a situation where two negative aspects combine to create a particularly bad outcome. For example, "The company's financial performance was a dismal double, with both sales and profits declining sharply."

What are some alternatives to "dismal double"?

You can use alternatives like "depressing dyad", "bleak twosome", or "gloomy duplication" depending on the specific context.

What does "dismal double" emphasize in a description?

The phrase "dismal double" emphasizes that there are two distinct and negative elements contributing to an overall poor or disappointing situation. It highlights the combined effect of these two factors.

In what contexts is "dismal double" most appropriate?

The phrase "dismal double" is suitable in contexts where you want to stress the dual nature of a negative outcome. It can be used in news reporting, sports commentary, or general discussions of disappointing events. But keep in mind that Ludwig AI says the phrase "dismal double" is usable but is not common.