poor impression

USAGE SUMMARY

"poor impression" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an unfavorable impression, such as in this example sentence: His poor impression on the hiring committee influenced their decision not to offer him the job.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Li made a poor impression in court and seemed incapable of expressing remorse.

The New Yorker

It made a poor impression when they treated journalists like criminals.

The New Yorker

Twice residents voted to retain the name Hicksville despite sentiments that it made a poor impression.

The New York Times

The more applications you do, the greater the chances you will make a poor impression.

The New York Times

Some of the early diarists note their poor impression of fabled Oregon.

The New York Times - Travel

He looks stiff and unrelaxed, clenching his hands together in a poor impression of a statesman.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

-Do you think professors should let students know when they are making poor impressions?

The New York Times

Saturday at the Test, and Chester-le-Street was full of spandex-clad wrestlers, phoney foam superheroes, bearded cheerleaders, beer-swigging nuns, and, in the middle, a few ersatz Aussie batsmen, doing poor impressions of the great players who came before them.

The Guardian - Sport

Other reasons were related to socio-cultural dimensions of health seeking behaviour, such as not being aware of effective treatment, poor impressions of providers, being unable to take time off to seek care and no companion to services.

BMC Public Health

Because I do a mediocre-to-poor impression of Ryan Gosling, I thought now's as good a time as any to break it out.

Huffington Post

If this stirs up some republican feeling, and if King Charles III makes a poor first impression, and if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stop having cute children... well, you never know.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey a critical message, consider pairing "poor impression" with specific examples to highlight the deficiencies, such as "The candidate made a "poor impression" due to their lack of preparation and unclear communication skills."

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "poor impression" without providing context, as this can weaken the impact. Instead, specify the factors contributing to the negative perception to create a stronger and more convincing statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor impression" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "impression". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It is typically used to describe a negative or unfavorable perception that someone or something creates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poor impression" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an unfavorable perception. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, and its prevalence across various sources—especially News & Media—highlights its versatility. While acceptable in most contexts, pairing it with specifics, such as "The candidate made a "poor impression" due to their lack of preparation", creates a stronger message. Consider alternatives like "negative perception" or "unfavorable image" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative perception

Highlights the overall negative understanding or belief.

unfavorable image

Emphasizes the visual aspect of the negative perception.

negative impact

Focuses on the resulting effect rather than the immediate perception.

unfavorable assessment

Highlights a negative evaluation or judgment.

bad light

An idiomatic expression referring to a negative portrayal.

detrimental portrayal

Focuses on the way someone or something is represented, with a negative outcome.

unimpressive display

Focuses on the lack of positive impact.

unwelcome effect

Implies that the result is undesirable or unwanted.

lousy showing

This is more informal and emphasizes the performance aspect.

disadvantageous presentation

Highlights that something was presented in a negative way.

FAQs

How can I avoid making a "poor impression" in an interview?

To avoid making a "poor impression", prepare thoroughly, dress appropriately, maintain eye contact, and clearly articulate your skills and experiences. Demonstrate enthusiasm and ask thoughtful questions about the role and company.

What's a more formal alternative to "poor impression"?

A more formal alternative to "poor impression" could be "unfavorable image" or "negative perception", depending on the specific context.

How does "poor impression" differ from "bad impression"?

While "poor impression" and "bad impression" are often used interchangeably, "poor" can sometimes imply a lack of quality or inadequacy, whereas "bad" might suggest something morally wrong or severely negative. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What factors contribute to a "poor impression"?

Factors contributing to a "poor impression" can include lack of preparation, unprofessional behavior, poor communication skills, or a negative attitude. It's important to address these areas to improve one's image.