Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Mare

Quick summary: Short for 'nightmare' — an informal British word for a stressful, frustrating, or badly-timed experience.

What does it mean?

A mare (short for 'nightmare') describes a genuinely bad, stressful experience — usually one full of problems, delays, or bad luck.

Is it positive or negative?

Negative. It always describes something that went badly.

When do you use it?

Use it after a rough day, journey, or task that was full of problems.

Examples

Example 1: The train was cancelled twice, my phone died, and then it rained — what a mare.

Example 2: Don't ask about work today, it's been a total mare.

Question for you

What's the biggest mare of a day you've had recently?

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