lousy work

USAGE SUMMARY

"lousy work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe work that is of very poor quality. For example: "I'm sorry I'm so late - I had to redo some of my work because it was lousy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

One issue is that there is no central registry for the profession, so it is easy, as the film explores, for a forensic pathologist doing lousy work in Northern California, say, to go and find work in Kansas City.

The New York Times - Arts

Don't assume that low prices signify lousy work: Checkbook finds that companies that perform top-quality work are just as likely to quote low prices as companies that do shoddy jobs.

The Washington Post

In artist's garb rather than drag — a T-shirt, sweatpants and dusty clogs, his blond hair in a messy page-boy — Mr. Perry spoke about the predominance of lousy work produced today, of his belief that contemporary art is neglecting the value of beauty, and of his experience as a very public transvestite.

The New York Times - Arts

House Republicans blasted the "performance-based" office for lousy work.

HuffPost

All too often, the cheapest contractor does lousy work and creates a lot of other problems.

HuffPost

There was no reason to turn out lousy work, because the work was all we had.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

While these clothes may have been made under lousy working conditions, used clothing offers a couple of benefits.

WikiHow

30 days in Brazil has played hell with her lousy facial work.

Huffington Post

I believe that people would rather have a lousy job working for a great person than a great job working for a bad manager.

The New York Times

The press was baffled, and often delighted: here was a right-wing politician who talked easily about health care and admitted that the Bush economy had been lousy for working families.

The New York Times

Despite a few bumps, like last week's losses, the economy is likely to continue to be good for investors, lousy for working families.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing work, be specific about what aspects are "lousy". Use concrete examples to illustrate the deficiencies, such as "lousy code" (for software) or "lousy brushwork" (for painting).

Common error

Avoid using "lousy work" as a blanket statement without providing any specific details. Instead, focus on which elements of the work are substandard to provide constructive criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lousy work" functions primarily as a descriptive term, modifying the noun "work" to indicate its poor quality or substandard nature. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lousy work" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe work of poor quality. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, though it maintains a neutral to informal tone that is less suitable for formal or scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's important to be specific about the deficiencies you're describing. Alternatives like ""poor quality work"" or "substandard performance" may be more appropriate in formal settings. While not very common, "lousy work" clearly communicates dissatisfaction with the quality of work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor quality work

Replaces "lousy" with a more formal synonym, focusing on the deficient standard of the work.

substandard performance

Emphasizes the performance aspect being below the expected level.

deficient workmanship

Highlights flaws and shortcomings in the execution of the work.

inferior output

Focuses on the result of the work being of a lower grade.

shoddy craftsmanship

Suggests carelessness and a lack of attention to detail in the work.

botched job

Indicates that the work was executed poorly and resulted in a failure.

careless execution

Highlights the lack of diligence and attention in performing the task.

inadequate effort

Implicates that the work lacks sufficient input and investment of resources.

slipshod work

Implies a lack of care or attention, suggesting a rushed and sloppy outcome.

bungled task

Indicates that the task was handled ineptly, resulting in failure or poor outcome.

FAQs

What does "lousy work" mean?

The phrase "lousy work" describes work that is of very poor quality or is performed incompetently. It implies that the effort or result is unsatisfactory and below expectations.

How can I use "lousy work" in a sentence?

You might say, "The contractor did "poor quality work", and now the roof is leaking", or "I received a complaint about some "careless execution" in the report you submitted".

What are some alternatives to saying "lousy work"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "substandard performance", "deficient workmanship", or "inferior output" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "lousy work" a formal or informal expression?

"Lousy work" is generally considered an informal expression. In professional or academic settings, using more formal alternatives like ""poor quality work"" or "substandard performance" is often more appropriate.