not looking good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not looking good" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not progressing in a positive way. For example: "The company's quarterly earnings report is not looking good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's not looking good.

The New York Times - Tech

"Not looking good".

The New York Times

Things were not looking good.

The New York Times

Tomorrow's not looking good either".

Independent

Signals are not looking good.

The New York Times

Well, it's not looking good.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

This did not look good.

The New Yorker

Things do not look good.

The Economist

That would not look good.

BBC

But the chances do not look good.

The Economist

THE signs do not look good.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not looking good" to express concern or pessimism about a situation's current state or future prospects. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider more nuanced phrasing depending on your specific audience and intent.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, "not looking good" can sound too informal for highly professional or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "the outlook is unfavorable" or "prospects are dim" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not looking good" functions as a predicative expression, offering a negative assessment of a situation or prospect. As Ludwig shows, it commonly appears after linking verbs (is, are, seems) to describe the current state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Reference

4%

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not looking good" is a commonly used expression to convey concern or pessimism about a situation's current state or future prospects. According to Ludwig, this grammatically sound phrase appears frequently in various contexts, most notably in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of your writing and choose more nuanced phrasing if needed. Alternatives like "the prospects are unfavorable" or "the situation is worrisome" can elevate the tone of formal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

things aren't promising

This alternative suggests a lack of potential for a positive outcome, shifting the focus to the future.

the outlook is bleak

Emphasizes a negative forecast or expectation, highlighting the severity of the situation.

it's not a favorable situation

This is a more formal way of expressing concern, focusing on the lack of advantages or benefits.

prospects are dim

Highlights the lack of brightness or hope in the future possibilities.

it seems unpromising

Similar to "things aren't promising", this emphasizes a lack of positive indications.

the situation is worrisome

Focuses on the anxiety or concern caused by the current circumstances.

it doesn't bode well

Suggests that current events are a bad omen for the future.

circumstances are unfavorable

Similar to "it's not a favorable situation", this highlights the lack of advantageous conditions.

the writing's on the wall

An idiomatic expression indicating that a negative outcome is inevitable.

the die is cast

Indicates that a decision has been made, and the outcome is now irreversible and likely negative.

FAQs

How can I use "not looking good" in a sentence?

You can use "not looking good" to express concern about a situation's progress or outcome. For example, "The patient's test results are "not looking good"" or "The company's financial situation is "not looking good"."

What's a more formal alternative to "not looking good"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "the prospects are unfavorable", "the situation is precarious", or "the outlook is bleak".

Is it grammatically correct to say "not looking good"?

Yes, "not looking good" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English to express a negative assessment of a situation.

What does it mean when someone says "things are not looking good"?

It means the situation is deteriorating, or the expected outcome is likely to be negative. Similar phrases include "things aren't promising" or "the outlook is bleak".