To make matters worse

To make matters worse is an idiom used by many writers. When idioms are used in the right place, they open the doors of effective communication and increase your descriptive power. In this way, you will be better understood. The meaning of the expression To make matters worse is also remarkable in this respect.

Meaning of "To make matters worse"

Meaning

To make matters worse is an idiom used when a bad situation is further complicated by the addition of another unfavorable circumstance. In other words, a person might use this expression when an already challenging situation becomes even more difficult. It is a way of expressing that a complex situation just became much more challenging.

Etymology

The phrase “to make matters worse” is from 1550s, from Middle English expression "worse to here." There is also evidence for a related expression from the same era, “to make worse worse”. The exact etymology of the phrase is unknown, although its usage has been tied to other phrases that denote the same meaning. The phrase is likely derived from the concept of “making a bad situation worse”.

Usage

The idiom “to make matters worse” is generally used when discussing a difficult situation that has just been complicated further. It can also be used to describe a situation that has become more difficult due to the addition of more difficulties or obstacles. It is most commonly used in casual conversation, such as in stories or anecdotes, as well as in more formal contexts such as news reports. In all these contexts, the phrase is used to emphasize the newly added difficulties.

Example Sentences

• The car broke down on the highway, and to make matters worse, it began to rain heavily.
• She was already stressed out with her studies, and to make matters worse, her computer crashed.
• The city was already struggling economically, but to make matters worse, the unemployment rate rose significantly.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.