idiom / phrasal verb · informal
look the worse for wear
UK/lʊk ðə wɜːs fə weə/US/lʊk ðə wɜrs fɔr wɛr/look the WORSE·for·wear
appear tired, worn, or in poor condition
Examples
“After a week in the sun, the old sofa really looked the worse for wear.”
“He looked the worse for wear after the long flight and sleepless night.”
“The town centre looked the worse for wear following the festival crowd.”
Band 8 sentence
“After months of constant use, the equipment looks the worse for wear and needs replacing.”
Collocations
- look the worse for wear after + noun
- look the worse for wear physically / emotionally
Word family
Common mistakes
look worse for wear (translate word-by-word)→look the worse for wear
look worse to wear→look the worse for wear
Say it for a higher band
5look tired→6look worn out→7+look the worse for wear
Synonyms
look tired
look worn out
Easily confused
look tired
“After the trip, he looked tired and wanted to sleep.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In look …
Learn it with its set