ill humour
LowFormal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A state of being in a bad mood; irritability or crossness.
A general state of irritability or peevishness that influences one's disposition and interactions. It can also refer to an acrimonious or sour temperament, sometimes used to describe a persistent character trait.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Ill humour" (noun, uncountable) is a formal, slightly old-fashioned term for a temporary bad mood or a habitual tendency towards irritability. It is often presented as a state one "is in" or "falls into." The related adjective is "ill-humoured" (UK) / "ill-humored" (US).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling: UK prefers "humour," US prefers "humor." The term is more likely to be encountered in British literary or formal contexts. The US equivalent is more commonly "bad mood" or "ill temper."
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a formal, sometimes slightly archaic or literary connotation. It can imply a more sustained or characteristic grumpiness than a fleeting "bad mood."
Frequency
Rare in contemporary everyday speech in both varieties. Higher relative frequency in UK written English, but still low overall.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/fall into + ill humour[Subject] + attribute [Object] to + ill humourIll humour + overcame + [Object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In a fit of ill humour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in formal writing to describe a difficult colleague's disposition: 'The manager's chronic ill humour created a tense office environment.'
Academic
Found in literary analysis, historical texts, or psychology discussing temperament: 'The character's ill humour serves as a metaphor for social alienation.'
Everyday
Very rare. Replaced by 'in a bad mood' or 'grumpy.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'ill humour' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'ill humor' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No direct adverb form. Use 'ill-humouredly'.
- He replied ill-humouredly to the simple question.
American English
- N/A - No direct adverb form. Use 'ill-humoredly'.
- She sighed ill-humoredly and turned away.
adjective
British English
- He was known for his ill-humoured remarks at staff meetings.
- Her ill-humoured silence lasted the entire journey.
American English
- The ill-humored critic panned every film he saw.
- We avoided his ill-humored tirades by working remotely.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is in ill humour today.
- Try not to speak to her when she has ill humour.
- Waking up late put him in a state of ill humour for the rest of the morning.
- She apologised for her earlier ill humour, blaming it on a lack of sleep.
- His chronic ill humour made him a difficult person to collaborate with on the project.
- The political commentary was sharp, but often delivered with a hint of ill humour.
- Attributing his acerbic critique solely to ill humour would be to overlook its valid, underlying points.
- The ambassador's ill humour was palpable during the tense negotiations, his replies terse and dismissive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of HUMOUR as your mood's "liquid" (from its Latin root *humor*, meaning fluid). ILL HUMOUR is when that liquid is spoiled or sour.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOOD IS A LIQUID / SUBSTANCE (to be in/fall into ill humour; overflowing with ill humour).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "больной юмор" (sick humour/comedy). The correct conceptual equivalent is "плохое настроение" or "раздражительность."
- Do not confuse with "ill-humoured joke," which is not a standard phrase.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'he had an ill humour'). It is typically uncountable.
- Confusing it with 'ill-humoured,' the adjective form.
- Using in informal contexts where 'bad mood' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for using the term 'ill humour'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'bad humour' is not a standard collocation. 'Ill humour' is the fixed phrase. 'Bad humour' might be misinterpreted as 'poor-quality comedy.'
It is possible, but the term implies a more sustained or deep-seated irritability. For a fleeting annoyance, 'annoyance,' 'irritation,' or simply 'bad mood' is more natural.
They are very close synonyms. 'Ill temper' can imply a greater propensity for angry outbursts, while 'ill humour' can lean more towards sullenness or peevishness, but they are often used interchangeably.
In standard British and American pronunciations, the 'h' in 'humour' is pronounced: /hjuː/. It is not silent.