made a lousy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a lousy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was done poorly or inadequately, often in a negative context. Example: "He made a lousy attempt at fixing the car, and it ended up worse than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Waitz made a lousy rabbit.

The New York Times

Alas, they made a lousy job of it.

The Economist

He would have made a lousy celebrity in any event.

The New York Times - Books

"Plus, I made a lousy interviewer," he wrote.

The Guardian - Music

THE Swiss psychologist-guru Carl Jung would have made a lousy biographer.

The New York Times - Books

(In fact, it already has made a lousy movie: "The Blob").

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

WASHINGTON — I would make a lousy detective.

The New York Times - Arts

It would make a lousy movie.

The New York Times - Books

Unfortunately, it is making a lousy job of the task.

The Economist

JD Hayworth is an oafish immigrant-basher and would make a lousy senator.

The Economist

"It sounds like a great life," Charles Shaar Murray wrote, "but unfortunately it makes a lousy record".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made a lousy", ensure the context clearly indicates what was done poorly. Specificity enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "made a lousy" in highly formal or sensitive contexts where a more nuanced expression of inadequacy is required. Consider alternatives like "performed inadequately" or "did not meet expectations" in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a lousy" functions as a verb phrase, where "made" is the main verb and "lousy" modifies the noun it precedes. It describes the quality of an action or creation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made a lousy" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something was done poorly or resulted in a low-quality outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily in news and media. While generally neutral, its informality may not suit highly formal or sensitive situations. Related phrases such as "did a poor job" or "performed poorly" offer alternative expressions, and understanding the nuances can improve clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did a poor job

Focuses on the action of doing something badly rather than the resulting quality.

made a terrible job

Similar to "did a poor job" but emphasizes the inferior quality of work.

performed poorly

A more formal way to describe inadequate performance.

did badly

A simple and direct way to express poor performance.

executed poorly

Focuses on the execution aspect, suggesting a flawed process.

botched the job

Implies a significant error or failure in completing a task.

messed up

An informal way to describe making a mistake or performing poorly.

screwed up

A more forceful and informal version of "messed up".

produced a substandard

Focuses on the quality of output, indicating that it didn't meet requirements.

turned out terribly

Describes the end result as being exceptionally bad.

FAQs

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

You can use "made a lousy" to describe something that was done poorly. For example, "He "made a lousy" attempt at fixing the car".

What can I say instead of "made a lousy"?

You can use alternatives like "did a poor job", "performed poorly", or "botched the job" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "made a lousy attempt" or "did a lousy attempt"?

"Made a lousy attempt" is generally preferred because "made" directly refers to the act of creating or performing the attempt. "Did a lousy attempt" is less common but understandable.

What is the difference between "made a lousy job" and "did a lousy job"?

Both phrases are similar, but "made a lousy job" implies creating something of poor quality, while "did a lousy job" focuses on the poor performance of the work itself. The difference is subtle.