make a bad move

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a bad move" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a poor decision or action taken in a particular situation, often with negative consequences. Example: "Investing all your savings in that failing company was definitely a bad move."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In a similar way, a manager can make a bad move and look good because the wrong player did the right thing.

The New York Times - Sports

What you have to do in a 800m race is control it and not make a bad move, so he went to the front and every time anybody came at him, his plan was to just hold them off.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Despite their ubiquitous presence during the last decade, they've rarely made a bad move.

The Guardian

"[This] gives them a chance to play without running the risk of being judged or embarrassed for making a bad move.

The New York Times - Magazine

While we may have hunches that something is the case, such as most people thinking Mickelson made a bad move, analysing social media on a large scale gave us some hard data to confirm that.

The Guardian - Tech

The problem is, it was telling players that something was happening, but it wasn't connected to their actions - they may have made a bad move and a good sound happened.

The Guardian - Tech

On the very first line of the new album, on "World War III," Nick sings about fighting with, um, an intimate: "I walked into the bedroom/You were visibly upset/Telling me I made a bad move".

The New York Times - Arts

And foreign investors made a bad move after the nuclear disaster in buying shares in TEPCO, the hapless operator of the Fukushima plant, whose shares have lost nine-tenths of their value since March.Moreover, lots of things could go wrong with the economy and public finances.

The Economist

In Milan, the editor-in-chief of Petits Luxes Magazine, Vanessa Caputo, 41, says, "Phoebe Philo has never made a bad move, including her decision to take time off at the height of her success to dedicate herself to work that to many of us women is much more important than anything else: maternity.

The New York Times

Before the season started, I said the Dodgers made a bad move in bringing Chase Utley back.

Los Angeles Times

That way, her chances are lowered to 20 to 10% (and also your chances of making a bad move).

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing strategic decisions, use "make a bad move" to highlight actions that undermine progress or lead to negative outcomes. For example, "Entering that market without proper research was to "make a bad move".

Common error

Avoid using "make a bad move" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "commit an error in judgment" or "implement a flawed strategy" for enhanced clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a bad move" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of making a poor decision or taking an action that has negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a bad move" is a versatile phrase used to describe poor decisions or actions, particularly in strategic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase. While "make a bad move" is grammatically sound and frequently used, especially within news and media, it's crucial to choose more formal alternatives for academic or professional writing. Understanding the nuance of the phrase helps to communicate evaluations of decisions effectively across diverse settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a misstep

Suggests a slight error or stumble in a process or decision.

make a mistake

A more general term for making an error.

err in judgment

Emphasizes a mistake in one's assessment or decision-making process.

exercise poor judgement

Directly refers to using bad judgement.

commit a blunder

Focuses on a significant mistake or error.

make a blunder

Synonymous with commit a blunder but slightly more common.

miscalculate one's actions

Highlights the incorrect estimation or planning of actions.

choose unwisely

Highlights the bad choice that was made.

fumble the ball

Idiomatic way of suggesting one failed.

drop the ball

Idiomatic way of suggesting one failed at a task or move.

FAQs

How can I use "make a bad move" in a sentence?

You can use "make a bad move" to describe a poor decision or action, such as "Investing in that company turned out to be making a bad move".

What are some alternatives to "make a bad move"?

Alternatives include "commit a blunder", "err in judgment", or "take a misstep" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "make a bad move" or "make a mistake"?

"Make a mistake" is a more general term for any error. "Make a bad move" specifically implies a strategic error or a decision with negative consequences. Choose the one that fits your intended meaning more closely.

What does it mean to "make a bad move" in business?

In a business context, to "make a bad move" refers to making a decision that leads to financial loss, damages reputation, or otherwise harms the business's prospects. For example, "Launching the product before testing it thoroughly was making a bad move".