it went badly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it went badly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or event that did not turn out well or had negative results. Example: "The presentation was poorly received; it went badly, and I could see the disappointment on my colleagues' faces."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

(In 1998, Cooperman made a foray into emerging markets, investing more than a hundred million dollars as part of a bid to take over Azerbaijan's state oil company, but it went badly wrong. His firm lost most of its money and paid five hundred thousand dollars to settle a U.S.-government bribery investigation).

The New Yorker

It went badly.

The New York Times - Magazine

It went badly from the start.

The New York Times - Sports

If it went badly, the consequences would be worse than Vietnam.

The New Yorker

Even supporters of Juan Carlos had to concede it went badly.

The New York Times

If it went well it was a relief; if it went badly it was crisis time.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

It goes badly".

The New York Times

Did it go badly?

Independent

"Every time, it goes badly".

The New York Times - Sports

If it goes badly, it won't be so great".

The New York Times - Arts

"It probably hurts more if it goes badly.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific event, follow "it went badly" with an explanation of why it went wrong for clarity.

Common error

While "it went badly" is acceptable in many contexts, it can sound too informal for academic or formal business writing. Opt for more precise language, such as "the experiment yielded unfavorable results" or "the initiative proved unsuccessful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it went badly" functions as a concise way to describe an event or situation that had an undesirable or unsuccessful outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly employed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it went badly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe an event or situation with an undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. While suitable for general communication and frequently found in news and media, it is less formal and may not be appropriate for academic or highly professional contexts. For such settings, alternatives like "it turned out poorly" or "the initiative proved unsuccessful" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it turned out poorly

Changes the verb and adverb, offering a more general description of the negative outcome.

it was a disaster

Replaces the phrase with a stronger, more emphatic term indicating a complete failure.

it failed miserably

Emphasizes the degree of failure, suggesting a complete and often embarrassing lack of success.

it didn't go as planned

Focuses on the deviation from the intended outcome, implying a planning failure.

it backfired

Suggests that the action had the opposite effect of what was intended, resulting in a negative consequence.

it ended in tears

Idiomatic expression indicating a very negative or sad outcome.

it flopped

Informal term indicating a complete lack of success, often used for performances or projects.

it crashed and burned

A more dramatic expression indicating a catastrophic failure.

it was a fiasco

Similar to disaster, but often implies a chaotic and embarrassing situation.

it proved unsuccessful

Formal and direct way of stating that the effort did not achieve its intended goal.

FAQs

What does "it went badly" mean?

The phrase "it went badly" means that something did not turn out well or had a negative outcome. It implies that the situation or event in question resulted in an undesirable result.

What can I say instead of "it went badly"?

You can use alternatives like "it turned out poorly", "it was a disaster", or "it failed miserably" depending on the context.

Is "it went badly" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it went badly" is grammatically correct. "Went" is the past tense of the verb "go", and "badly" is an adverb modifying the verb to describe how it went.

How can I use "it went badly" in a sentence?

You can use "it went badly" to describe various situations. For example: "The presentation was poorly received; "it went badly", and I could see the disappointment on my colleagues' faces."