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make things worse
/meɪk θɪŋz wɜːrs/
to cause a situation to become more difficult or problematic
Arguing with your partner will only make things worse.
Fighting will escalate the conflict rather than resolve it.
informal
to cause a situation to deteriorate or become more difficult
His rude comments made things worse during the negotiation.
His behavior escalated tensions instead of helping the discussion.
The rain made things worse for the rescue team.
The weather conditions complicated their efforts.
This phrase is commonly used to describe actions that exacerbate an already difficult situation.
Collocations
make things worseto aggravate a situation
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this phrase when describing actions that unintentionally or intentionally worsen a situation.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Be mindful of overusing this phrase in formal writing; it is more suited to casual conversation.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the verb 'make' with the noun phrase 'things worse' to describe a negative outcome. It has been in use since at least the early 20th century.
Usage Notes
This phrase is often used in informal and conversational contexts to express frustration or concern about a deteriorating situation.
Word Breakdown
make
to cause or create
verbthings
situations or circumstances
nounworse
more difficult or problematic
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary