Meaning of Idiom ‘In the Worst Way’
In the worst way means very much; desperately; to an extreme degree. 1Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,2Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,3Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.
Usage
In the worst way is often used literally, such as “He did things in the wors tway possible.” When it is used as an idiom, it refers to something that is wanted or needed very much. 4Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.
Examples Of Use
“My son wants a new video game in the worst way, but he already has too many.”
“What a stressful day! I need a drink in the worst way.”
“Susan wanted to get into Harvard in the worst way, but after visiting, she realized she didn’t want to go there.”
Origin
Used since the second part of the 1800’s. 5Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
More Idioms Starting with I
- I’m Your Huckleberry
- In For It (or Something), to be
- Ivory Tower
- It’s A Small World
- It Never Rains, But It Pours
More In Idioms
- Have Someone in the Palm of One’s Hand
- Last One In is a Rotten Egg
- Runs in the Family
- Day In And Day Out
- In For It (or Something), to be
More Way Idioms
More Worst Idioms
Sources
| 1. | ↲ | Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. |
| 2, 5. | ↲ | Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. |
| 3, 4. | ↲ | Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012. |