poor fare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor fare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe inadequate or unsatisfactory food or service, often in a dining context. Example: "The restaurant was highly rated, but the poor fare left us disappointed and unlikely to return."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

While that was no more than anyone had been predicting, with a draw enabling both sides to progress, it was poor fare to set before spectators who had braved floods, inadequate public transport and traffic gridlock in Recife city centre to reach the Arena Pernambuco.

The Guardian - Sport

Writing for The Sun, Rob McNichol criticised the majority of the show as being "filler" and stated that the Divas match was "poor fare".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When the same people repeated the tests, suddenly the poor fared far worse — the difference was akin to a thirteen-point drop in I.Q.

The New Yorker

After its poor faring at the polls, it would likely have even more trouble putting through a credible program demanding sacrifices — and even a Labour-Liberal Democratic coalition would not add up to a majority.

The New York Times

Women without health insurance — who may receive less preventive care — were four times as likely to die as women with such coverage, but women covered by Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor, fared as well as women with private insurance, the city found.

The New York Times

According to Daniels et al, "...the fact is that health inequalities occur as a gradient: the poor have worse health than the near-poor, but the near-poor fare worse than the lower middle class, the lower middle class do worse than the upper middle class, and so on up the economic ladder.

Globalization and Health

Ninety-nine percent (99%) of all newborn deaths occur in developing countries and within these countries, the poorest fare far worse than the richest.

Unicef

The "distributional analysis" allowed people to quickly see how the poorest fared.

The Guardian

Italy's poorest fared far better, suffering a 4% drop in income, according to the report Society at a Glance 2014.

The Guardian

The poor, who fare hard.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nationally, poor whites fare worse at school than poor blacks or Asians (see chart 6 .Places like Knowsley also reveal something about race in Britain.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor fare", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as substandard, such as food, entertainment, or service.

Common error

Avoid using "poor fare" to describe emotional states or abstract concepts; it is generally reserved for tangible goods or experiences. Instead, consider using alternatives like "unfulfilling" or "disappointing" for intangible subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor fare" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "fare". It denotes something of low quality or standard. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor fare" is a phrase used to describe something of substandard or inadequate quality, particularly in the context of food, entertainment, or service. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase is primarily found in news media and wiki sources and serves to express disappointment or criticism. Consider using alternatives like "substandard quality" or "inferior offering" to diversify your language. Avoid misapplying the phrase to abstract concepts and instead reserve it for tangible or experiential contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substandard quality

Replaces the noun "fare" with a broader term for quality, emphasizing the deficiency.

inferior offering

Substitutes both words with synonyms, maintaining a negative connotation.

unsatisfactory service

Shifts the context slightly to focus on the service aspect, implying it was inadequate.

deficient performance

Replaces with terms related to an action or execution being below expectations.

low-grade provision

Highlights the insufficient level of what was provided.

bad showing

Indicates a poor result or display in a particular instance.

cheap goods

Focuses on the low cost and presumed low quality of the items.

shoddy product

Emphasizes the poor construction or manufacture of the item.

inadequate provision

Highlights the lack of sufficient resources or preparation.

disappointing display

Focuses on the disappointing nature of a spectacle or event.

FAQs

How can I use "poor fare" in a sentence?

You can use "poor fare" to describe something of inadequate or unsatisfactory quality, especially food or entertainment. For example: "The restaurant's reviews were glowing, but the meal was "poor fare"."

What are some alternatives to "poor fare"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "substandard quality", "inferior offering", or "unsatisfactory service" instead of "poor fare".

Is "poor fare" formal or informal language?

"Poor fare" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. It's suitable for most conversational contexts and some types of writing, but may be less appropriate for highly formal or academic settings.

What's the difference between "poor fare" and "mediocre fare"?

"Poor fare" suggests something is significantly below expectations, while "mediocre fare" implies something is merely average or unexceptional. "Poor fare" is a stronger criticism than "mediocre fare".