looks very grim

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks very grim" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outlook that appears bleak or hopeless. Example: "The economic forecast for the next quarter looks very grim, with rising unemployment rates and declining consumer spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"It looks very grim.

The New York Times

"The future looks very grim," Cecilia Desimo, 57, a housewife in northern Jujuy Province, said the other day.

The New York Times

With many rare and important resources already becoming scarce, oil production at its peak and declining, and urgent concerns over fresh water supplies, the reality of the situation looks very grim indeed.

The New York Times

When President Bush spoke about the economic downturn last Friday, American networks assumed a tone of cautious pessimism while a BBC reporter said, "even the president is forced to admit" that the economic future looks "very grim".

The New York Times

It can be seen in quotes mentioned in the column ("If the U.S. and Britain were hoping that this unusual regime was about to crumble...".) and a tone that goes way beyond "'blunt" ("Even the president is forced to admit" that the economic future looks "very grim").

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I visualized his future prospects and they looked very grim," recalled his father, Dr. Mark Eisenberg.

The New York Times

As for prop 30… if this prop does not pass things look very grim for the future of education and our children.

University of California, Berkeley

In the early eighties, when there was a new wave of arrests, when Andropov came to power, things looked very grim.

The New Yorker

And so on a recent morning, Mr. Mota sat slumped in a chair in the courtroom, dressed in the blue and yellow garb of all prisoners, looking very grim.

The New York Times

"I think things look very grim".

Huffington Post

Whitman, looking very grim, especially in reaction shots, in which she frequently glowers or gives a curious laugh, was much more aggressive than in her first two debates.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looks very grim", ensure the subject of your sentence is something that can logically "look" a certain way, such as a forecast, situation, or outlook. For instance, "The economic forecast looks very grim."

Common error

Avoid using "looks very grim" to describe people's appearances or emotions. While you can say someone "looked grim", using "very grim" in this context sounds unnatural. Instead, use adjectives like "somber", "despondent", or "crestfallen".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks very grim" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun (often implied or stated) to indicate a pessimistic or unfavorable condition. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looks very grim" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing a pessimistic outlook or dire situation. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and, while not overly formal, carries a neutral tone. Related phrases like "appears very bleak" or "seems quite hopeless" can be used as alternatives, depending on the desired nuance. Remember to use it with subjects that can logically "look" a certain way and avoid using it to describe a person's appearance or emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears very bleak

Changes the verb to "appears" and uses the adjective "bleak" for a more descriptive tone.

seems quite hopeless

Uses "seems" instead of "looks" and "hopeless" instead of "grim", suggesting a complete lack of optimism.

presents a dismal picture

Employs "presents" to focus on the visual aspect and uses "dismal" to emphasize the dreariness of the situation.

is exceptionally discouraging

Replaces "looks" with "is" and "grim" with "discouraging", highlighting the disheartening nature of the situation.

shows a grave outlook

Uses "shows" to depict the situation and "grave" to underscore the seriousness of the future.

the future is unpromising

Expresses a lack of potential or positive prospects for the future.

the situation is dire

Replaces the descriptive phrase with the single word "dire" for a more concise expression of severity.

the prospects are unfavorable

Highlights the negative aspects of the potential outcomes.

things appear unfavorable

Rephrases to emphasize a general sense of negativity.

the outlook is pessimistic

Focuses specifically on a negative expectation for the future.

FAQs

How can I use "looks very grim" in a sentence?

Use "looks very grim" to describe situations, prospects, or outlooks that appear bleak or unfavorable. For example, "The future of the company "looks very grim" after the recent financial losses".

What are some alternatives to saying "looks very grim"?

You can use alternatives such as "appears very bleak", "seems quite hopeless", or "presents a dismal picture" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "the situation looks very grim"?

Yes, it's correct. The phrase "looks very grim" is commonly used to describe a negative or unfavorable situation. According to Ludwig AI, this is correct and usable in written English.

What's the difference between "looks grim" and "looks very grim"?

Adding "very" intensifies the degree of grimness. "Looks grim" suggests a negative outlook, while "looks very grim" emphasizes a more severe or hopeless situation.