crummy
C1Informal, colloquial
Definition
Meaning
Of poor quality; cheap, shabby, or unpleasant.
Also used to describe something disappointing, unsatisfactory, or causing a feeling of disgust or dissatisfaction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While primarily denoting poor quality, 'crummy' often carries a subjective, emotive sense of personal disappointment or distaste. It is less objective than synonyms like 'poor-quality'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are largely identical. Spelling 'crummy' is standard in both, though 'crumby' (relating to crumbs) is a separate word. 'Crummy' is slightly more established in American informal use.
Connotations
In both varieties, it has a informal, sometimes slightly old-fashioned or humorous tone. It is not considered highly offensive, but is dismissive.
Frequency
Moderately common in informal spoken and written language in both regions. Perhaps slightly more frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[BE/LOOK/SEEM] crummy[FEEL] crummy[HAVE] a crummy [NOUN]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “feel crummy (ill or guilty)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Avoided in formal reports. May appear in informal internal communication to express dissatisfaction (e.g., 'We got a crummy deal').
Academic
Not used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation to complain or describe disappointments (e.g., 'What a crummy film').
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'crummy' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'crummy' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- The plan worked out crummily, and we lost all our money. (Rare, very informal)
American English
- The game played crummily due to the bad port. (Rare, very informal)
adjective
British English
- I stayed in a really crummy B&B in Blackpool.
- He's got a crummy old laptop that keeps crashing.
American English
- We had a crummy motel room on the road trip.
- She was sick and felt really crummy all day.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The weather is crummy today.
- I feel crummy. I have a cold.
- We watched a crummy film on TV last night.
- He quit his crummy job at the fast-food restaurant.
- Despite the crummy accommodations, we had a wonderful holiday exploring the island.
- The company's crummy treatment of its employees led to a strike.
- The novel's plot was engaging, but let down by crummy, clichéd dialogue.
- Politicians made a lot of crummy promises during the campaign that they never intended to keep.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **crumb**-covered, stale piece of bread – it's unappetizing and poor quality, just like something **crummy**.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW QUALITY IS WORTHLESS (LIKE CRUMBS).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'crumb' (крошка). Не является прямым эквивалентом 'хрустящий' (crispy). Ближе по смыслу к 'дрянной', 'паршивый', 'так себе'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'crumby' (full of crumbs). Using in overly formal contexts. Overusing as a generic negative term.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'crummy' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's not rude or offensive, but it is informal and dismissive. It's fine for casual conversation but not for formal writing or situations.
They are very close synonyms in informal use. 'Lousy' can be slightly stronger/more negative. 'Crummy' often emphasizes cheapness or shabbiness, while 'lousy' can emphasize general badness or being infected with lice (original meaning).
Yes, but it usually describes their behaviour, attitude, or a specific role (e.g., 'a crummy boss', 'a crummy friend'), not their essential character. Calling someone 'crummy' directly is insulting.
Etymologically, it comes from 'crumb', with the idea that something of poor quality is as worthless as a small bread fragment. The spelling 'crummy' is now standard for this meaning to distinguish it from 'crumby' (literally covered in crumbs).