this looks bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this looks bad" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a negative impression or concern about a situation, object, or outcome. Example: "After reviewing the report, I must say that this looks bad for our project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

This looks bad.

The New Yorker

I know this looks bad.

The New Yorker

This looks bad after the telecoms bust.

The Economist

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet This looks bad.

The New Yorker

This looks bad, and Mr Starr (a lawyer, not a politician) has no talent for disguising it.

The Economist

"I immediately thought, 'This looks bad,' but then I realized, I can't be ashamed of my faith," Bedri said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This looked bad, but South showed it didn't matter.

The New York Times

(This looked bad, but nothing else would have worked better).

The New York Times

(This looked bad, but in fact nothing was better).

The New York Times

Not only would this look bad to the public, who is basically sick of Apple crying copycat anytime a big competitor steps into the ring, but it would also have a psychological effect on the court proceedings as a whole.

TechCrunch

Not only will this look bad, but it means braces.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assessing a situation, follow "this looks bad" with a specific explanation to provide context. For instance, "This looks bad; we're significantly behind schedule and over budget."

Common error

Avoid using "this looks bad" in highly formal or professional communications without offering a constructive solution or alternative. In such contexts, consider more neutral phrases like "this presents a challenge" or "this requires further attention".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this looks bad" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a negative assessment or concern about a particular situation or object. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used to convey a negative impression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this looks bad" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express concern or a negative assessment. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, though primarily found in news and media. While direct and easily understood, it can be replaced with more formal alternatives like "this seems unfavorable" or "this appears problematic" in professional settings. Using "this looks bad" effectively involves providing context to explain why something looks bad and avoiding its overuse in formal communications without offering potential solutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this seems unfavorable

Changes the verb and adjective to convey a similar negative assessment but with a slightly more formal tone.

this appears problematic

Replaces "looks bad" with "appears problematic" for a more formal and analytical expression.

this doesn't bode well

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a negative future outlook.

this presents a problem

Shifts the focus to the problematic nature of the situation.

this is cause for concern

Highlights the worrying aspect of the situation.

this gives a bad impression

Focuses on the negative impression created by the situation.

the situation is concerning

Modifies the sentence structure to emphasize the concerning nature of the situation.

this is a worrying development

Emphasizes the negative development implied by the situation.

this is not ideal

Uses understatement to express dissatisfaction or concern.

this is hardly encouraging

Uses a more subtle and indirect way of expressing a negative assessment.

FAQs

What does "this looks bad" mean?

The phrase "this looks bad" means that a situation, object, or outcome appears unfavorable or problematic. It indicates a negative assessment based on available information.

How can I use "this looks bad" in a sentence?

You can use "this looks bad" to express concern about something. For example, "The latest financial reports came in, and "this looks bad" for our revenue projections."

What can I say instead of "this looks bad"?

You can use alternatives like "this seems unfavorable", "this appears problematic", or "this doesn't bode well" depending on the context.

Is "this looks bad" too informal for professional emails?

While "this looks bad" is generally acceptable, in highly formal settings, consider using more professional alternatives such as "this presents a challenge" or "this requires further attention".