unfriendly reception

USAGE SUMMARY

"unfriendly reception" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone is met with hostility or lack of warmth upon arrival or interaction. Example: "The guest was taken aback by the unfriendly reception from the staff." Alternative expressions include "cold welcome" and "hostile greeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The unfriendly reception, however, has not slowed the antitrust commission.

The New York Times

Consequently, Henson was given a particularly unfriendly reception in Dublin the following year.

BBC

A few days after Democrats in the House rushed to approve a budget from Madigan that was $7 billion out of balance, Cullerton attempted to pass it in the Senate, where it got a very unfriendly reception.

Huffington Post

Upon an initial "unfriendly" reception from the host plant, rhizobia must avoid host defenses, and elicit a successful environment to establish an effective N2-fixing symbiosis [ 44– 44].

BMC Genomics

Because of their status as new girls, many of them reported receiving an unfriendly reception during their first weeks working as FSWs.

BMC Public Health

One woman, who reached the hospital immediately after onset of labour, described the unfriendly reception by nurses working in the labour ward: I arrived at the hospital at midnight but the way I was received was not good.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Of course, this is a country where the British have had a mixed reception over the past 13 years, but not once was an unfriendly word directed my way.

The Guardian

One reason for the mostly generous reception given by the French media to the Carrefour-Promodès merger is that it comes so soon after the unfriendly, messy and only partly successful effort of Banque Nationale de Paris to acquire both Paribas and Société Générale.

The Economist

That was decidedly unfriendly.

The New York Times

They are not unfriendly.

The New York Times

It's quite unfriendly".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of the negative welcome when deciding whether to use "unfriendly reception" versus a stronger term like "hostile welcome."

Common error

Avoid using "unfriendly reception" when you simply mean there was no greeting or acknowledgement at all. "Unfriendly reception" implies a negative interaction, not just an absence of one.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unfriendly reception" is as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject of a verb to describe the manner in which someone or something is received. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfriendly reception" is a noun phrase used to describe a negative or unwelcoming greeting. As analyzed through Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. The phrase suggests a sense of hostility or lack of warmth. While not extremely frequent, it is a useful expression to describe negative interactions. The Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English, suggesting it describes a situation where someone is met with hostility or lack of warmth upon arrival or interaction. Several alternatives exist, such as "hostile welcome" or "cold reception", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hostile welcome

Emphasizes the antagonistic nature of the welcome.

cold reception

Highlights the lack of warmth or friendliness.

negative response

Focuses on the unfavorable reaction received.

unwelcoming atmosphere

Shifts the focus to the environment rather than the greeting itself.

poor welcome

A more general way to describe a bad reception.

chilly greeting

Uses a less intense adjective to describe the greeting.

lukewarm response

Indicates a lack of enthusiasm in the reaction.

unpleasant greeting

Highlights the disagreeable nature of the welcome.

unsavory greeting

Emphasizes the unappealing aspect of the welcome.

discouraging welcome

Highlights the effect of the reception on the recipient.

FAQs

How can I use "unfriendly reception" in a sentence?

You can say, "The new policy received an "unfriendly reception" from the employees" or "He was met with an "unfriendly reception" upon his arrival".

What are some alternatives to "unfriendly reception"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "hostile welcome", "cold reception", or "negative response".

Is "unfriendly reception" formal or informal?

"Unfriendly reception" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "unfriendly reception" and "lack of reception"?

"Unfriendly reception" implies a negative or hostile greeting, while "lack of reception" simply means there was no greeting or acknowledgement at all. They are not interchangeable.