expect the worst
idiom
: to assume that something very bad will happen
We expect the worst when we return home after the storm passes.
Examples of expect the worst in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But by now, in circumstances like these, baseball fans have become conditioned to expect the worst.
—
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2024
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst and think he could be done for the season.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
As Donn makes his way through the treacherous territory, members of his family and volunteer search parties hope for the best but expect the worst, while the boy withstands physical and psychological hardships that might cause a Green Beret to flinch.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Indeed, the Trump era has conditioned us to expect the worst in debates and other public forums.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
Remnants of Hurricane Helene are expected to reach the Louisville area overnight, and meteorologists expect the worst of the weather conditions induced by the weather system will come Friday.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 27 Sep. 2024
The Pacific Northwest in general was bracing for freezing rain and ice, but western Oregon was expecting the worst of it as the state's three largest cities − Portland, Salem and Eugene – were forecast to get up to half an inch of ice through early Wednesday before a reprieve later in the day.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
All expecting the worst, each character takes an unexpected turn.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2024
All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2024
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Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2024
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst and think he could be done for the season.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
As Donn makes his way through the treacherous territory, members of his family and volunteer search parties hope for the best but expect the worst, while the boy withstands physical and psychological hardships that might cause a Green Beret to flinch.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Indeed, the Trump era has conditioned us to expect the worst in debates and other public forums.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
Remnants of Hurricane Helene are expected to reach the Louisville area overnight, and meteorologists expect the worst of the weather conditions induced by the weather system will come Friday.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 27 Sep. 2024
The Pacific Northwest in general was bracing for freezing rain and ice, but western Oregon was expecting the worst of it as the state's three largest cities − Portland, Salem and Eugene – were forecast to get up to half an inch of ice through early Wednesday before a reprieve later in the day.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
All expecting the worst, each character takes an unexpected turn.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 May 2024
All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near expect the worst
Cite this Entry
“Expect the worst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect%20the%20worst. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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