take it badly

USAGE SUMMARY

'take it badly' is a valid sentence and can be used in written English.
You can use it when someone does something that has a negative impact on someone else. For example, "John's father took it badly when he heard that John failed his exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Some take it badly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Markets would take it badly.

The Washington Post

Some horses really take it badly when they are traumatized, on drugs or in a strange location.

The New York Times - Sports

And it's not just 6'2" male couriers that take it badly either; even short female cyclists can become incandescent with rage when they feel threatened.

The Guardian - Opinion

Future dressing-downs were more measured and would be followed by the manager taking up a seat next to him: "Don't take it badly but you need to know that English football is different…" And the player visibly grew.

Independent

"If we were to get a big drop in retail employment that fed into an even lower headline number, the bond market would be happy and the stock market would take it badly.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

He was cocky while they were winning but took it badly when they lost.

The New Yorker

Mr. Martin, according to the prosecutor's version at the hearing, took it badly.

The New York Times

Rosberg took it badly and the race was followed by the famous cap-throwing incident.

The Guardian - Sport

To say Alun Wyn has taken it badly is a gross understatement.

The Guardian - Sport

He was desperate to succeed and took it badly when he didn't.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the intensity of the negative reaction, add adverbs like "very", "really", or "extremely" before "badly": "He took it extremely badly."

Common error

Avoid using "take it badly" in highly formal writing, such as academic papers or official reports. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "respond negatively" or "be adversely affected" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take it badly" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a negative emotional or behavioral response to a situation or event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take it badly" is a commonly used phrase to describe a negative reaction to something, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically sound and widely understood, its usage is more prevalent in news, media, and informal contexts, like WikiHow. For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "respond negatively" or "react poorly". Remember to be mindful of your audience when deciding whether to use "take it badly" or a more sophisticated alternative. The phrase appears in several authoritative sources, with The Guardian and The New York Times being the most frequent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not take it well

A direct synonym, simply negating a positive reception.

be upset by it

Highlights the emotional distress caused by the situation.

react poorly

Focuses on the reaction itself, without necessarily implying deep emotional distress.

be offended by it

Implies a sense of personal insult or disrespect.

feel hurt by it

Focuses specifically on the emotional pain experienced.

respond negatively

A more neutral way of saying someone didn't like something, without strong emotional connotation.

resent it

Expresses a feeling of bitterness and anger about something.

be aggrieved by it

A more formal way of saying someone feels wronged or unfairly treated.

become bitter

Describes a long-term negative emotional change as a result of the experience.

be displeased by it

A milder expression of dissatisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "take it badly" in a sentence?

"Take it badly" is used to express that someone reacted negatively or with distress to something. For example: "She "took it badly" when she didn't get the job."

What can I say instead of "take it badly"?

You can use alternatives like "react poorly", "respond negatively", or "be upset by it" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "took it badly" or "taken it badly"?

Both are correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Took it badly" is past tense, while "taken it badly" is used with auxiliary verbs like 'has' or 'have' in perfect tenses.

What's the difference between "take it badly" and "take it personally"?

"Take it badly" means to react negatively, while "take it personally" means to interpret something as a direct criticism or attack on oneself. The first implies a negative reaction; the second, a specific interpretation.