lousy student

USAGE SUMMARY

"lousy student" is an acceptable and commonly used idiom in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who isn't doing well in school or is not trying very hard. For example: "Jim is a lousy student; he never pays attention in class and never does his homework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Perhaps I was a lousy student.

The Guardian

Carlson was, by all accounts, a lousy student, and he now takes pleasure in declaring college overrated.

The New Yorker

He was a "lousy student," as he conceded later, failing a philosophy course and getting a D in a journalism class.

The New York Times - Books

"It was as if the United States wanted to reward a bad guy, the lousy student, and to punish the good student.

The New York Times

By his own assessment, he was a lousy student (he didn't read his first book until he was 16), and wound up taking art classes when he couldn't qualify for medical school.

The Guardian - Arts

The camera, shaking with barely controlled rage, lingers on the gray-bearded man as he reads his son the riot act, calling him a "lousy student" and "an obnoxious kid," among other things.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Instead of forcing them into summer catch-up programs, and/or making them repeat grades, we should do everything possible to keep them in school, because the data show that kids who stay around do better than the dropouts even when they are equally lousy students.

Forbes

And in a particularly baldfaced unsupportable move, HB 7069 says that if Chris does a lousy job as a student at Gotrox Charter Academy, then goes back to public school, the public school has to count all of Chris's failure in their public school grade.

Huffington Post

Students who have fared worst since the test came in three years ago have been those from the swathe of north India where Hindi is spoken as a first language, as well as, more generally, those from rural backgrounds, where students from lousy schools end up choosing humanities for higher studies over crunchier disciplines.

The Economist

The company has further exposed itself to lending risk by making loans to students with lousy credit.

Forbes

That doesn't mean that we shouldn't also reform the schools; you put prepared students in lousy schools and they will fail too.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a student's performance, consider the context and choose "lousy student" if you want to convey a sense of disappointment or mild disapproval. However, be mindful of using more objective terms like "underperforming student" in professional or formal settings.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on subjective terms like "lousy" when providing feedback on a student's performance. Instead, supplement it with specific examples of areas where they need improvement. For example, instead of simply saying "He is a lousy student", specify "He is a lousy student because he frequently misses deadlines and doesn't participate in class discussions."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lousy student" functions as a descriptive term, where 'lousy' modifies the noun 'student'. It's used to express a negative evaluation of a student's performance or attitude toward their studies. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lousy student" is used to describe a student who is not performing well academically and is generally considered acceptable in written English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While grammatically correct, its informal tone makes it more suitable for news articles and casual conversation than formal academic settings. When describing a student's performance, consider using more objective language in professional contexts. While the phrase is commonly found in News & Media, it's less frequent in scientific or business writing. Alternatives like "poor student" or "underperforming student" may be better suited for formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor student

Replaces "lousy" with a more general term for inadequate performance.

bad student

Uses a simpler, more direct adjective to describe the student's performance.

terrible student

Emphasizes the severity of the student's poor performance.

incompetent student

Focuses on the student's lack of ability to perform well.

failing student

Highlights the student's risk of not passing academically.

underperforming student

A more formal way to describe a student who is not meeting expectations.

weak student

Indicates a lack of strength or skill in academic areas.

deficient student

Emphasizes a lack of necessary qualities or skills for success.

unsuccessful student

Focuses on the lack of positive outcomes in the student's academic efforts.

struggling student

Describes a student who is facing difficulties in their studies.

FAQs

What does it mean to call someone a "lousy student"?

Calling someone a "lousy student" means they are not performing well academically, often due to lack of effort or ability. It suggests disappointment in their performance.

What are some alternatives to saying "lousy student"?

You can use alternatives like "poor student", "bad student", or "underperforming student" depending on the context and the level of formality required.

Is "lousy student" a formal or informal way to describe a student's performance?

"Lousy student" is considered informal. For more formal settings, it's better to use phrases like "underperforming student" or "struggling student".

How can I use the phrase "lousy student" in a sentence?

You might say, "Despite his potential, he was a "lousy student", often skipping class and failing to complete assignments".