terrible shot

USAGE SUMMARY

"terrible shot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you want to express that something, especially a shot or action, is very bad or subpar. For example, "He took a terrible shot and completely missed the target."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The only poor shot I hit was the tee shot there at 5. It was just a terrible shot.

The New York Times - Sports

A terrible shot.

The Guardian - Sport

And then slices a terrible shot into Rae's Creek!

The Guardian - Sport

Considering the circumstances, it was a terrible shot.

The New York Times - Sports

I had a terrible shot and he tipped it in".

The New York Times - Sports

"My very first hole was just a duck hook, just a terrible shot," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

I hit terrible shots.

The New York Times - Sports

But I hit three terrible shots that cost me bogeys.

The New York Times

They weren't even marginally bad shots, they were just terrible shots.

The New York Times

Southern Miss is taking terrible shots, rushing their offense, and look totally disjointed as a team.

The New York Times

Tiger Woods, having hit three terrible shots in a row, landing himself in the greenside bunker on the par-5 No. 4, tried to intimidate his ball into the hole and it almost work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "terrible shot" in sports writing, provide specific details about why the shot was poor (e.g., incorrect angle, lack of power, poor timing) to give the reader a clearer picture.

Common error

Avoid using "terrible shot" as a generic criticism without explaining the specific flaws. Saying a shot was "terrible" without context lacks impact and doesn't provide valuable insight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terrible shot" functions as a noun phrase, where "terrible" is an adjective modifying the noun "shot". It describes the quality of the shot, indicating it was of very poor standard. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "terrible shot" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a poor attempt, particularly in sports and similar contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for general use. While very common in News & Media, it's important to provide specific details about why the shot was "terrible" to enhance the description. More formal alternatives, such as "poorly executed attempt", might be preferred in academic or highly professional settings. Understanding these nuances can help ensure effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awful attempt

Changes the noun to attempt, emphasizing the act of trying rather than the result itself.

appalling effort

Substitutes both adjective and noun, suggesting a more formal and critical assessment.

dreadful miss

Replaces "shot" with "miss", specifically indicating a failure to hit a target.

poorly executed move

Focuses on the execution of an action, applicable in broader contexts beyond just shooting.

clumsy play

Suggests a lack of finesse or coordination in the action.

bungled action

Implies a complete failure due to incompetence or mistake.

atrocious performance

Broadens the scope to encompass an overall substandard display of ability.

laughable effort

Highlights the inadequacy of the attempt to the point of ridicule.

pathetic attempt

Emphasizes the weakness or inadequacy of the effort.

woeful performance

Implies deep regret or sorrow about the poor quality of the action.

FAQs

How can I describe a shot worse than just saying it was a "terrible shot"?

You could use stronger adjectives like "atrocious", "horrendous", or "abysmal". Describing the specific flaw, such as "wildly off-target" or "completely mishit", is also effective.

Is it appropriate to use "terrible shot" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "terrible shot" might be considered informal for academic or highly professional contexts. Consider using alternatives like "poorly executed attempt" or "suboptimal performance" depending on the context.

What sports or activities is the phrase "terrible shot" commonly used in?

The phrase is versatile and can be used in many sports, including golf, basketball, soccer, and hockey, or even in activities like photography where a "shot" refers to a photograph.

Are there any figures of speech or idioms related to a "terrible shot"?

While there isn't a direct idiom, the idea of a bad shot connects to concepts like "air ball" in basketball or a "shank" in golf, which describe specific types of poor shots. You could also use a figure of speech to emphasize the impact of the action such as, "a shot so bad it was as if the player was aiming for another galaxy".