that's serious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that's serious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a situation or statement is significant or concerning. Example: "When I heard about the accident, I realized that's serious and we need to take action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The moment there are civilians involved in the casualties, that's serious," said Dr. Omar Saleh, the health organization's emergency humanitarian action coordinator for Somalia.

The New York Times

If somebody's coming to see me about something that's serious to him, I want to get the background about him and about the issue".

The New York Times

So I don't want to be glib about something that's serious.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's nothing that's serious to where I would not be playing".

The New York Times - Sports

Even after deducting the considerable costs of a running a big hedge fund, that's serious moolah.

The New Yorker

If you're a young pianist struggling to pay the rent, that's serious money.

The New York Times - Arts

In the process, they came up with an agenda that's serious, detailed and mostly cogent.

The New York Times

Wood responded by fashioning a critical voice that's serious but opinionated, heavily stylised but not slick.

The Guardian - Books

Ghent is a city that's serious about style, so of course it takes the B&B concept to another level.

The Guardian - Travel

For any of those models, that's serious cash for a compact S.U.V.; a Toyota RAV4 V-6 with leather, navigation and all the toys is $33,000.

The New York Times

"Anytime you've got a businessman who's engaged in munitions sales to a country that has been deemed a state sponsor of terrorism, that's serious," Mr. Arruda said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for more formal language, consider alternatives like "that is a grave matter" or "that is a significant concern".

Common error

While acceptable, avoid using "that's serious" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives with a more refined tone to suit the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that's serious" primarily functions as an expressive interjection or declarative statement. It conveys the speaker's assessment of a situation, emphasizing its gravity or significance. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI, which indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that's serious" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express the gravity or significance of a situation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English to express that a situation or statement is significant or concerning. While the phrase is suitable for a wide range of contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media, reflecting its utility in conveying important information swiftly. For formal settings, you may consider alternatives like "that is a grave matter" or "that is a significant concern" to maintain a refined tone. When using the phrase, remember it serves to prompt action or emphasize the importance of the matter at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's a grave matter

Emphasizes the solemn and concerning nature of a situation.

that's a critical situation

Highlights the urgency and importance of addressing the situation.

that's a significant problem

Underscores the importance and potential impact of the issue.

that's a weighty concern

Highlights the seriousness and potential consequences of the issue.

that's cause for alarm

Indicates that the situation warrants concern and immediate attention.

that's nothing to scoff at

Highlights the need to take the situation seriously and avoid dismissiveness.

that's a major crisis

Emphasizes the scale and severity of the situation as a critical event.

that's no laughing matter

Indicates that the situation is not humorous and demands respect.

that's a dangerous game

Implies risky actions with potentially severe negative consequences.

that's playing with fire

Highlights recklessness and potential harm in the described actions.

FAQs

How can I use "that's serious" in a sentence?

You can use "that's serious" to express the importance or severity of a situation. For example, "When I heard about the accident, I thought, "that's serious, we need to act immediately.""

What are some alternatives to "that's serious"?

You can use alternatives like "that's a grave matter", "that's concerning", or "that's significant" depending on the context.

Is "that's serious" suitable for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "that's serious" is more suited for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "that is a grave matter" or "that is a significant concern".

What makes a situation qualify as "that's serious"?

A situation described as "that's serious" typically involves potential negative consequences, urgency, or significant impact on individuals or communities.