Hopeless at doing Meaning in English
expression
ˈhoʊpɫəs/ /ˈæt/ /ˈduɪŋ
HOHP-luhs AT DOO-ing
hˈəʊpləs/ /ˈæt/ /dˈuːɪŋ
HOH-pluhs AT DOO-ing
Definition
Describes someone who is very bad at a particular activity or skill, and feels they cannot improve at it.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and often used self-deprecatingly (“I'm hopeless at dancing”). Common collocations: 'hopeless at math/cooking/art'. Do not confuse with 'hopeless' meaning emotionally desperate. Usually followed by a verb in the '-ing' form or a noun referring to the activity.
Spanish: muy malo para - pésimo en - sin esperanza paraPortuguese (BR): péssimo em - ruim em - sem jeito paraPortuguese (PT): péssimo a - mau a - sem jeito paraChinese (Simplified): 完全不会 (wánquán bù huì) - 在...上毫无希望 (zài...shàng háo wú xīwàng)Chinese (Traditional): 完全不會 (wánquán bù huì) - 在...上毫無希望 (zài...shàng háo wú xīwàng)Hindi: बिल्कुल अच्छा नहीं (में) - बिल्कुल असफल (में)Arabic: سيئ جدًا في - لا أمل له فيBengali: একেবারে অপারগত (কার্য করতে) - একদম পারি না (কিছু করতে)Russian: совершенно безнадёжен в (делании чего-то) - не умеет вообще (делать что-то)Japanese: 〜するのがまったく苦手 - 〜が全然できないVietnamese: vô vọng trong việc (làm gì đó) - cực kỳ kém (làm gì đó)Korean: ~을(를) 전혀 못하다 - ~에 영 소질이 없다Turkish: bir şeyi yapmada çok kötü - tamamen beceriksiz (bir işte)Urdu: کسی کام میں بالکل نااہل - بالکل نہیں آتا (کچھ کرنا)Indonesian: sangat buruk dalam (melakukan sesuatu) - sama sekali tidak bisa (melakukan sesuatu)
Example Sentences
I'm hopeless at doing math problems.
basic
She's hopeless at doing crafts.
basic
They feel hopeless at doing sports.
basic
Honestly, I'm hopeless at doing small talk at parties.
natural
He's hopeless at doing anything on time.
natural
I've always been hopeless at doing impressions of people.
natural