Criticism

Resent criticism

I'm very angry at the report on my teaching. I deeply resent the inspector's criticism.

Take criticism

 The manager is very sensitive. He just can't take criticism. I don't know how he got the job.

Single out for criticism

 The whole team were responsible for our poor performance. I don't understand why I was singled out for criticism by the manager.

Aim criticism

Criticism has been levelled at the government for the increase in hospital waiting lists. Most of the criticism has been aimed at the Minister.

Target for criticism

If you stick to your extreme political views, don't complain if you become a target for criticism.

In response to criticism

The company has changed its working practices in response to criticism by government inspectors.

Sensitive to criticism

Choose your words carefully. She is very sensitive to criticism.

Open to criticism

People in public life must be open to criticism If they're not, they simply won't survive.

Note of criticism

 Do I detect a  note of criticism? I would have thought you were the last person to dare to criticise me!

Barrage of criticism

After the singer's appalling behaviour at the awards ceremony, she faced a barrage of criticism in the national press.

 

The French government has received strong criticism for continuing to test nuclear weapons in the Pacific.

The police chief has come in for harsh criticism over his handling of the riots.

The government's economic policies have attracted a lot of criticism recently.

 The controversial film 'Hooligans' has run into severe criticism for its use of strong language.

 The new regulations on immigration have come under considerable criticism in the press.

The government is currently facing fierce criticism over its failure to reduce taxes.

 

I'm willing to accept your criticism of the way you were treated by Reception, but I think your criticism of 'the whole staff of the hotel' is wholly unjustified.

My tutor didn't offer any constructive criticism of my poem. He just said he didn't like it. I thought he would at least have given me some advice on how to improve it.

 The government is coming under growing criticism for its failure to send food to the starving people of West Africa. More and more people are demanding action.

Make sure you only say positive things about her work. She can't accept even mild criticism of her paintings. She thinks she's the new Van Gogh!

 

Notes

I. In 1-4 you can also use direct; in 2-6 a storm of criticism; in 4-3 increasing criticism is possible.

2. Here are five main areas of adjectives:

strong: severe, harsh, heavy, bitter, fierce, serious growing: increasing, mounting

wide: widespread, general, fundamental, constant positive: fair, constructive, legitimate, valid negative: adverse, hostile, scathing, damaging

3. Note the expression in 3-2 - come in for criticism

This means that someone is criticising you. It is a fairly formal usage:

Our policies have come in for a lot of criticism from the press recently.