in a bad way
17
6.0
- idiom
:
en mal estado
- We're in a bad way, sir.
- the economy in a bad way
- her whole life in a bad way
But I was, I was in a bad way for for a good six weeks.
- But I was, I was in a bad way for for a good six weeks.
- So I knew emotionally that I was in a bad way.
Examples
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So the budget case market has been in a in a bad way for a while now.
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He's in a bad way.
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But I was, I was in a bad way for for a good six weeks.
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Still, he was in a bad way when I came upon him.
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I think Earth might be in a bad way.
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I was in a bad way.
Fiction book (1997) -
I know I'm in a bad way.
Fiction book (2000) -
Nor do I dispute that many people today are in a bad way.
Blog text (15) -
The MacPhersons were in a bad way.
Fiction book (1999) -
The patient has been in a bad way since his last check-up, struggling with multiple health issues.
Synonyms
∞
2.9
In difficulty and likely to face bad results because of a mistake or bad situation
33
6.0
Short of money or resources and finding things difficult
11
7.4
A very difficult situation that causes serious money problems
9
4.1
Having serious money problems and unable to pay bills
8
9.1
In a very bad state and not doing well, like a business losing money
6
4.1
In a bad way that causes problems
Feeling ill or not well
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'in a serious or difficult condition' is directly and compositionally derivable from the parts: 'in' (locative/state), 'bad' (negative quality), and 'way' (manner/condition). This is a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. 'en mal estado', 'en mauvais état') and therefore a B1 learner who knows the individual words will reliably understand the phrase.
Etymology
The phrase in a bad way may come from the image of someone on a rough road, where the way means 'road' and a broken road leaves the traveller stuck or hurt. So, 'in a bad way' came to mean 'in trouble', 'sick', or 'having money problems'.