get things crooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get things crooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where things are not going as planned or are becoming disorganized or incorrect. Example: "After the unexpected changes in the project, we really started to get things crooked and lost track of our original goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They get things crooked, or antigogglin'".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Or is it that we feel that only a crook will be able to effectively manage within a crooked system, to deal with the other crooks he will encounter, and to get things done for our neighborhood?

The New York Times

But they also get things wrong.

Voice Interaction Design Crafting the New Conversational Speech Systems

So you want to get things finished.

BMJ Open

He got things done".

The New York Times - Sports

"He gets things done".

The New York Times

You may also want to get fake crooked teeth or a set of teeth with the two front ones missing.

WikiHow

And it has an equally small-time moral, best expressed by Shoeless Joe himself: "Dealing with crooks, you know, you get crooked every way".

Huffington Post

You got one eye crooked to the other".

The New Yorker

If you have crooked teeth, get braces or Invisalign.

WikiHow

If you have crooked teeth, get braces and do as your dentist recommends.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "get things crooked" when you want to emphasize that actions or events are leading to a state where things are not aligned or correct. This phrase can be effective in informal contexts where a more descriptive term is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "get things crooked" in formal or professional settings, as it may come across as too informal or vague. Opt for clearer and more direct language, such as "complicate matters" or "introduce errors", to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get things crooked" functions as a verb phrase, describing an action that leads to a state of disarray or incorrectness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes the result of actions leading to misalignment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "get things crooked" is a grammatically sound, but somewhat uncommon, way to express that a situation is becoming disorganized or incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's more appropriate for informal settings. For more formal or professional contexts, consider alternatives such as "complicate matters" or "introduce errors". Usage analysis reveals its prevalence across news media, wiki content, and scientific texts, but is rare in academic and business environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mess things up

Implies a more active role in causing things to go wrong.

get things wrong

Focuses on obtaining incorrect results or understandings.

muddle things up

Suggests a state of confusion and disorder.

foul things up

Indicates a failure or error in execution.

screw things up

Informal way of saying things were badly done.

botch things up

Suggests incompetence in handling a task.

derail the process

Refers to stopping or disturbing the continuity of a certain process or order.

distort the facts

Emphasizes the changing of facts from its original state.

misrepresent the situation

Implies a false or misleading account of a situation.

misinterpret information

Highlights an incorrect understanding of data or details.

FAQs

How can I use "get things crooked" in a sentence?

You can use "get things crooked" to describe a situation where things are becoming disorganized or incorrect. For example, "After the unexpected changes in the project, we really started to "get things crooked" and lost track of our original goals."

What phrases are similar to "get things crooked"?

Alternatives include "mess things up", "get things wrong", or "muddle things up".

When is it appropriate to use "get things crooked"?

It's best suited for informal conversations or writing where a less formal tone is acceptable. In professional settings, consider using more precise terms.

Is "get things crooked" grammatically correct?

Yes, "get things crooked" is grammatically correct, although it is not a very common or formal expression. Other options, such as "complicate matters", might be more appropriate in some contexts.