Cool MateThat's bad vs That's disappointing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's bad
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
That's disappointing
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: That's disappointing
| That's bad | That's disappointing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts bæd//🇺🇸 //ðæts bæd// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðæts dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ// |
| Meaning | It is not good. | It's sad or not what you expected. |
| Example | The weather forecast says it will rain all week. That's bad. | I was really looking forward to the concert, but it got canceled. That's disappointing. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | That's really bad, Don't say that's bad, That's bad for business, Oh, that's bad, That's bad luck | express disappointment, feel disappointment, disappointment in |
| Antonyms | - | that's exciting, that's encouraging |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'That's good'., Using with a positive context., Saying 'That is bad' in informal settings. | Confused with 'that's disappointed' which is incorrect., Using it too often can make you seem negative., Overly dramatic use may seem insincere. |
| Usage notes | Often used in conversation to express disapproval or disappointment. It's informal, so avoid in formal writing. | Use in conversations when you feel let down. It's suitable for most situations but can sound less formal in professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's bad vs That's disappointing
What's the difference between That's bad and That's disappointing?
That's bad: It is not good. That's disappointing: It's sad or not what you expected.
Which is more formal: That's bad and That's disappointing?
That's disappointing is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
That's bad: The weather forecast says it will rain all week. That's bad. That's disappointing: I was really looking forward to the concert, but it got canceled. That's disappointing.
Can I use That's bad and That's disappointing interchangeably?
Not always. That's bad and That's disappointing 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.