in a bad way

Idioms and Phrases

In trouble; also, deteriorating. For example, If he can't get that bank loan he'll be in a bad way , or The business is in a bad way, with profits declining every month . [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

But even Trump supporters were doing damage control as Hinchcliffe’s set went viral — in a bad way.

From Los Angeles Times

"People here have this in their memories and the government uses this in a bad way, playing on their emotions because they want to stay in power."

From BBC

By many objective standards, the electric vehicle maker is in a bad way.

From Los Angeles Times

From his seat in the upper deck, Jack Barno, who went to the game with high school buddies, could see things were escalating in a bad way.

From Seattle Times

He told her his mother was there "in a bad way - all beat and covered in blood".

From BBC

Related Words

• battered
• broken-down
• crumbling
• damaged
• decaying
• decrepit
• derelict
• dingy
• in ruins
• neglected
• ramshackle
• rickety
• run down
• seedy
• shabby
• unkempt