“Bad shape” generally refers to poor physical health, but can also describe negative test results or a need for lifestyle changes. “Good shape” is used for positive scenarios. The term is an idiomatic expression that can also be used in other situations, such as financial difficulty or intoxication.
When a person is considered to be in poor condition, the phrase generally means that they are in poor health or not physically fit. Some residents of North America and Europe use this idiom to describe a person who is in the hospital with a serious illness, perhaps even close to death. In lighter circumstances, a doctor may also tell his patient is in bad shape when a test result reveals something negative that could lead to poor health. The term bad shape can also be used literally, meaning that a person needs to start eating better and exercising to lose unwanted weight. Other situations where the phrase bad form could be used would be to describe a pregnant woman, a person in financial difficulty, or someone who is intoxicated.
Most of the time, when someone mentions the term “bad form” in North America, they are referring to someone who is in poor physical condition. Similarly, a doctor might use the term “good shape” to describe someone who passed a physical exam or received great test results, but it could easily be applied to dozens of other positive scenarios. The term is used so loosely that a passerby who has heard someone use the phrase would have no idea what was being referred to, even if he knew the people speaking.
While the literal definition seems to mean someone who is in poor physical or mental condition, it can also be used to describe a number of other scenarios. If someone’s car stalled on the highway, for example, and they had to go to a repair station only to find their wallet was still in the vehicle, the service attendant can use the phrase to describe the situation . Another use of the phrase is when someone has consumed so much alcohol that he can barely stand; his friends can laugh and use the expression.
The phrase “bad form” is one of many English sayings classified as idiomatic expressions. Usually, the meaning of idioms is a phrase that would make no sense to anyone outside a group or culture using the word because the literal definition would mean something else. For example, another American idiom is “high-five,” which means to slap your hands on top of each person’s head in greeting or celebration. Other cultures may not understand the term.
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