expect the worst

phrase

: 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

Because of the Magic’s injury history, everybody expected the worst, but, thankfully, Franz was able to walk off the court on his own power and returned to action late in the third quarter. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

Big tech companies are laying off workers in the thousands, with CEOs expecting the worst and predicting soaring employment rates among college graduates — while gleefully cutting costs at their companies and not looking back. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026

Experiences of inconsistent or insensitive care can lead you to expect the worst of other people, a core feature of insecure attachment. — Jessica A. Stern, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026

Shoot for the stars and expect the worst. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 11 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for expect the worst

• accursed
• amerced
• cloudburst
• coerced
• conversed
• disbursed
• dispersed
• headfirst
• immersed
• outburst
• rehearsed
• reversed