- An informal expression used to convey sympathy or acknowledge that a situation is bad, unfortunate, or disappointing. Stronger and more informal than That's too bad.
Explanation
Origin
- The verb 'suck' has had negative connotations for a long time, possibly evolving from slang related to fellatio, or independently developing a sense of 'being bad' or 'drawing things down'.
- By the mid-20th century, to suck meaning to be bad or undesirable became common in American slang, spreading widely.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- That blows.
- That's messed up. (Suggests unfairness)
- That's pants. (UK slang, meaning rubbish/bad)
- That's garbage. / That's trash. (Slang, meaning very bad quality or unfair)
Milder:
- Bummer.
- That's too bad.
- How annoying. / That's annoying.
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- That's bullshit. (Expresses disbelief or unfairness)
- That's fucked up. (Stronger version of 'messed up')
- That's shitty.
Situational Appropriateness
- Strictly informal. Use only with friends, peers, or in very casual environments.
- Avoid in professional, formal, or polite company, as 'sucks' can be considered mildly vulgar or unprofessional. Definitely avoid with elders or authority figures unless you know they use such language.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The main misunderstanding is using it in inappropriate (formal) settings due to not recognizing its level of informality and mild vulgarity.
- The literal meaning of 'suck' is irrelevant here.
Examples
- You have to work this weekend? That sucks.
- My phone broke right after the warranty expired. That really sucks.
- I heard they cancelled the trip. That sucks, man.
Dialogue
Person A: My landlord just raised the rent by $200 a month.
Person B: Whoa, that sucks! Can you afford that?
Person A: Barely. I might have to look for a new place. It sucks.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: My internet has been down all day. This sucks. 😩 #Fail #BadService
- Comment on friend's post about a cancelled event: Aw man, that sucks! I was looking forward to it.
- Reddit comment: r/mildlyinfuriating post showing a minor annoyance -> Comment: Yeah that sucks.
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Yeah, it really does. / Tell me about it. / Yep.
- Acknowledgment and moving on: I know, but what can you do?
- Expressing more detail: Yeah, and now I have to...
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing That sucks:
- The person experiencing the bad situation feels understood and might elaborate further.
After saying That sucks:
- Might be followed by offering help or further commiseration: That sucks. Is there anything I can do? / That sucks. I'm sorry, man.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response.
Intonation
- Emphasis usually on sucks. That SUCKS.
- Often said with a tone of genuine commiseration or shared frustration. Falling intonation.
Generation Differences
- Very common among younger generations (Millennials, Gen Z) but also widely used and understood by Gen X. Older generations might find it crude.
Regional Variations
- Extremely common in North American English. Widely understood and increasingly used in other regions like the UK and Australia, though they also have local equivalents (That's rubbish, That's shit).