show in a poor light

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "show in a poor light" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing how something or someone is portrayed negatively or unfavorably. Example: "The article tends to show the company's practices in a poor light, highlighting only the negative aspects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recent surveys in the UK and Germany show Vodafone in a poor light and undermine its aspiration to demonstrate and monetise a sustainable premium positioning on quality.

The Guardian - Business

I am not a lawyer, of course, but the court records show Facebook in a poor light: evasive, pedantic and stalling for time.

TechCrunch

Some of these details were supplied by Armitage, whose relationship with Scott had broken down and who, after Scott, Wilson and Shackleton were all dead, chose to reveal details which tended to show Scott in a poor light.

Wikipedia

He says he is not in the people smuggling game, but knows those who are; many are under house arrest, punished by Hamas for their part in a business that has shown Gaza in a poor light.

The Guardian

While embarrassing for JPMorgan, the case is also expected to show British regulators in a poor light for their inability to properly supervise major international banks.

Independent

The original legal notice in the case, sent to Penguin in 2010, alleged that the book "is a shallow, distorted, and non-serious presentation of Hinduism … written with a Christian Missionary Zeal and hidden agenda to denigrate Hindus and show their religion in a poor light … The intent is clearly to ridicule, humiliate, and defame the Hindus and denigrate the Hindu traditions".

The New Yorker

"As chief executive of this organisation I was both saddened and deeply embarrassed to witness the scenes that unfolded during what is supposed to be Scottish football's flagship fixture: these images were broadcast around the world and shows our game in a poor light.

The Guardian - Sport

"These images were broadcast around the world and shows our game in a poor light.

BBC

Hindus may at times insist on their human rights in keeping some of their traditions alive but there is at times a risk that this can show Hinduism more generally in a poor light and can undermine its potency.

The Guardian - Opinion

Driven essentially by a hostility towards minorities rather than concern for gender justice, their real objective in supporting the ban on triple talaq is to show the minority community in a poor light.

Huffington Post

"Intel's own people tell us Classmate is a dog," Mr Negroponte told Newsweek after Intel's decision to quit.If true, Intel's behaviour shows the chip giant in a poor light.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and purpose of your writing. While "show in a poor light" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "portray unfavorably" or "cast in a negative light".

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions that obscure who is doing the "showing." Active voice makes the sentence more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The data was shown in a poor light by the report," write "The report showed the data in a poor light."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "show in a poor light" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used with a transitive verb to indicate the action of presenting something or someone in an unfavorable manner. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "show in a poor light" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express a negative portrayal. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. While the phrase is useful, this analysis reveals it to be infrequently used, offering opportunities to strategically employ synonyms like "cast in a negative light" or "portray unfavorably" to add nuance and impact to your writing, especially in formal contexts. Be mindful of using active voice to maintain a clear and direct tone, and always ensure that the context makes evident what is being portrayed negatively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cast in a negative light

Emphasizes the act of presenting someone or something negatively.

portray unfavorably

Focuses on the act of depicting something in an unattractive or critical way.

depict negatively

Highlights the act of illustrating something in a detrimental manner.

present in a bad light

Stresses the act of offering something in an unfavorable way.

give a bad impression

Focuses on the negative feeling or idea conveyed.

reflect badly on

Emphasizes the negative consequences or implications.

put in a negative perspective

Highlights the subjective viewpoint that makes something look bad.

paint a bleak picture

Focuses on creating a pessimistic or discouraging image.

display in a disadvantageous manner

Highlights that something or someone is represented in a way that puts at a disadvantage.

show to disadvantage

Focuses on how something is being represented that has a disadvantage.

FAQs

How can I use "show in a poor light" in a sentence?

You can use "show in a poor light" to describe how something is presented negatively. For example, "The article tends to show the company's practices in a poor light, highlighting only the negative aspects."

What are some alternatives to "show in a poor light"?

You can use alternatives like "cast in a negative light", "portray unfavorably", or "depict negatively" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "show in a poor light" or "show in a bad light"?

Both "show in a poor light" and "show in a bad light" are acceptable, but "show in a poor light" might be perceived as slightly more formal. They both convey the same basic meaning of presenting something negatively.

What's the difference between "show in a poor light" and "put in a negative perspective"?

"Show in a poor light" generally describes the act of presenting something unfavorably, while "put in a negative perspective" emphasizes the subjective viewpoint that causes something to look bad. The former is more about the presentation, the latter about the interpretation.