on a miserable note

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a miserable note" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or ending that is unhappy or disappointing. Example: "The meeting concluded on a miserable note, leaving everyone feeling disheartened about the project's future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Paul Rees Wallaby Pocock arrested at mining protest Rugby fans mark memory of Phillip Hughes South Africa went into this tour with high hopes after their win over New Zealand, but they suffered an ignominious defeat by Ireland, secured two nondescript wins, then ended on a miserable note — defeat by Wales and, worse still, the sickening injury suffered by their captain, Jean de Villiers.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When a long wait ends on a happy note — the line speeds up, say — we tend to look back on it positively, even if we were miserable much of the time.

The New York Times

Stop on a good note!

WikiHow

A lighter moment on a miserable day for the tourists.

BBC

I arrived home from work on a miserable winter afternoon and found a large envelope in my mailbox.

Los Angeles Times

THE bell just rang on an another miserable trading session in New York.

The Economist

M: You made a happy song on like a miserable day.

Huffington Post

Men's qualification concluded on Tuesday with a miserable outing for Keatings on the pommel horse.

BBC

Bury ended the season on a positive note on Saturday with a 3-2 victoverover play-off bound Yeovil, but it has largely been a miserable period for the club which has seen them twice placed under a transfer embargo because of their financial troubles.

BBC

But she wanted to minimize time spent on the L. "The L is a miserable, miserable train line," she said.

The New York Times

On a positive note!

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a miserable note" to describe the ending of events, periods, or situations that have been particularly unpleasant or disappointing. Ensure the context supports the intensity of the 'miserable' descriptor.

Common error

Avoid using "on a miserable note" when the situation is only mildly negative or simply neutral. Reserve it for scenarios that genuinely evoke a strong sense of unhappiness or failure; otherwise, consider "on a disappointing note" or "on a sad note".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a miserable note" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner or condition in which an action concludes. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it indicates the ending was unpleasant or unfortunate.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on a miserable note" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe an ending characterized by disappointment or unhappiness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing. While its register leans towards neutral, careful consideration should be given to the context, avoiding overuse in situations that are only mildly negative. Alternative phrases such as "on a sad note" or "on a disappointing note" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emotional weight. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a sour note

Replaces 'miserable' with 'sour', implying a displeasing or disagreeable end.

on a sad note

Substitutes 'miserable' with 'sad', indicating a sorrowful or unhappy ending.

on a depressing note

Replaces 'miserable' with 'depressing', emphasizing the dispiriting nature of the conclusion.

on a downbeat note

Uses 'downbeat' instead of 'miserable', focusing on the pessimistic or discouraging aspect.

on a disappointing note

Replaces 'miserable' with 'disappointing', highlighting the failure to meet expectations.

on an unfortunate note

Substitutes 'miserable' with 'unfortunate', suggesting bad luck or an unfavorable outcome.

on a gloomy note

Replaces 'miserable' with 'gloomy', emphasizing the somber or pessimistic atmosphere.

on a bleak note

Uses 'bleak' instead of 'miserable', highlighting the cheerless or depressing nature of the situation.

on a pessimistic note

Replaces 'miserable' with 'pessimistic', underscoring the lack of hope or optimism.

on a discouraging note

Substitutes 'miserable' with 'discouraging', focusing on the loss of confidence or enthusiasm.

FAQs

How can I use "on a miserable note" in a sentence?

You can use "on a miserable note" to describe how something ended in a disappointing or unfortunate way. For example: "The project concluded on a miserable note after the budget cuts".

What can I say instead of "on a miserable note"?

You can use alternatives like "on a sad note", "on a disappointing note", or "on a sour note" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "on a miserable note" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "on a miserable note" is emotionally charged. In formal writing, consider alternatives that convey negativity with less intensity, such as "on a disappointing note" or "on an unfortunate note".

What's the difference between "on a miserable note" and "on a tragic note"?

"On a miserable note" describes something ending unhappily or disappointingly, while "on a tragic note" describes something ending with great sorrow, loss, or disaster. "Tragic" implies a much greater level of suffering than "miserable".