Cool MateGet nasty vs They'll turn ugly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Get nasty
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
They'll turn ugly
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most common: They'll turn ugly
| Get nasty | They'll turn ugly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡɛt ˈnæsti//🇺🇸 //ɡɛt ˈnæsti// | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪl tɜːn ˈʌɡli//🇺🇸 //ðeɪl tɜrn ˈʌɡli// |
| Meaning | To become unpleasant or aggressive. | They will become bad or unpleasant. |
| Example | When things didn't go his way, he started to get nasty with his colleagues. | If we don't resolve this issue soon, they'll turn ugly. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | get nasty comments, get nasty surprises, get nasty arguments | turn ugly quickly, turn ugly fast, they'll turn ugly during arguments |
| Common mistakes | Using 'get nasty' in overly formal writing., 'Get nasty' confused with 'get mad' which implies anger, not necessarily unpleasantness., Using 'get nasty' without context, where the meaning may be unclear. | Confused with 'they'll turn beautiful' - opposite meaning., Using in overly formal contexts where it sounds odd., Misinterpreting as a physical change rather than a behavioral one. |
| Usage notes | Use 'get nasty' when discussing a shift to unpleasant behavior, often in informal contexts. It may be inappropriate in professional settings. | Used colloquially to imply that a situation or person's behavior is likely to worsen. Best avoided in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Get nasty vs They'll turn ugly
What's the difference between Get nasty and They'll turn ugly?
Get nasty: To become unpleasant or aggressive. They'll turn ugly: They will become bad or unpleasant.
Which is more common: Get nasty and They'll turn ugly?
They'll turn ugly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Get nasty: When things didn't go his way, he started to get nasty with his colleagues. They'll turn ugly: If we don't resolve this issue soon, they'll turn ugly.
Can I use Get nasty and They'll turn ugly interchangeably?
Not always. Get nasty and They'll turn ugly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.