That's bad vs That's no good

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

That's bad

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

That's no good

Informal Top 3,000 (common)

Most common: That's bad

	That's bad	That's no good
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ðæts bæd// 🇺🇸 //ðæts bæd//	🇬🇧 //ðæts nəʊ ɡʊd// 🇺🇸 //ðæts noʊ ɡʊd//
Meaning	It is not good.	That is not acceptable or helpful.
Example	The weather forecast says it will rain all week. That's bad.	I forgot to bring my homework, and the teacher said, 'That's no good.'
Register	Informal	Informal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (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	that's no good for you, that's no good at all, that's no good idea
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'That's good'., Using with a positive context., Saying 'That is bad' in informal settings.	Using it in formal writing or speeches., Confusing it with 'that's good.', Overusing in situations that need constructive feedback.
Usage notes	Often used in conversation to express disapproval or disappointment. It's informal, so avoid in formal writing.	Used in casual conversations to express dissatisfaction. Avoid in formal contexts or professional settings.

See it in real clips

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

But owing me money, that's bad.

That's bad

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Well, that's no good. You won't kill many Orcs with a blunt blade.

That's no good

Frequently asked questions: That's bad vs That's no good

What's the difference between That's bad and That's no good?

That's bad: It is not good. That's no good: That is not acceptable or helpful.

Which is more common: That's bad and That's no good?

That's bad is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

That's bad: The weather forecast says it will rain all week. That's bad. That's no good: I forgot to bring my homework, and the teacher said, 'That's no good.'

Can I use That's bad and That's no good interchangeably?

Not always. That's bad and That's no good 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.