to make things worse vs to make matters worse

Both phrases, 'to make things worse' and 'to make matters worse,' are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable and have the same meaning, which is to indicate that a situation is becoming more negative or difficult.

Last updated: April 03, 2024 • 330 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"to make things worse"

This phrase is used to introduce a statement that describes how a situation is becoming more negative or difficult.

Examples:

He lost his job, and to make things worse, his car broke down on the way home.
To make things worse, it started raining just as we were about to leave.
The power went out, and to make things worse, the backup generator failed to start.

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It's most important not to make things worse.
It's better to do nothing than to make things worse.
You're going to make things worse!
And there even are traffic policemen to make things worse!
It only seemed to make things worse.
The contribution of our two rapporteurs is to make things worse.
I tried to bulldoze you, and I didn't meant to make things worse.
If you hurt me or anyone else here, it is only going to make things worse for you.
Mom, you don't have to make things worse.
Believe me, the last thing I want Is to make things worse for these families.
Listen to me, he's only going to make things worse for you.
Governments come and go, with different colours and flags, and the only thing they do is to make things worse.
It may not be her fault that these are fading from the lives of Americans, especially the lives of the poor whom she is so concerned about, but ignoring their role in a healthy society is only going to make things worse.
Everything I say seems to make things worse.
But our partners wouldn't want us to make things worse.
This only seemed to make things worse.
It's clever how you use your apologies to make things worse.
We don't want to make things worse.
You are determined to make things worse.
You're only going to make things worse.

Alternatives:

to make matters worse
to add insult to injury
to compound the problem
to exacerbate the situation
to aggravate matters

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"to make matters worse"

This phrase is used to introduce a statement that describes how a situation is becoming more negative or difficult.

Examples:

She missed her flight, and to make matters worse, her luggage was lost.
To make matters worse, the store was out of the item I needed.
The meeting was already stressful, and to make matters worse, the projector stopped working.

Show examples from the web [+]

And to make matters worse, he seemed distant.
And to make matters worse, they allowed some kids to attend without having them.
And to make matters worse, he got Souza'd.
And to make matters worse, it was gardener day.
And to make matters worse, Jill dumped me last night.
And to make matters worse, they are starting to question the state of affairs.
And to make matters worse Member States often spoke with different voices.
And to make matters worse, they had to let Chad go.
And to make matters worse, I have not delivered a message of hope about the environment.
And to make matters worse, it seemed I was taken for a...
And to make matters worse, a tropical storm is heading their way.
And to make matters worse, the case worker's coming tonight.
But to make matters worse, it now appears as though... someone was filming me as well.
And to make matters worse, she gave me this.
And then, to make matters worse, we met the local weatherman.
In fact, the temperature varies between 70 and 100 º C, and to make matters worse there is a fairly high percentage of moisture, approximately 20%.
And to make matters worse, I had braces -
And to make matters worse, for the first time since we've been reunited,
The aristocrats were infuriated against him, and to make matters worse, Andronikos seems to have become increasingly unbalanced; executions and violence became increasingly common, and his reign turned into a reign of terror.
And to make matters worse, my daughter, my only kid, - got it in her head that I'm the one cheating on her mom!

Alternatives:

to make things worse
to add insult to injury
to compound the problem
to exacerbate the situation
to aggravate matters

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to make things worse vs to make matters worse