How do you use "Weak sauce" in a sentence?

You're leaving the party at 9 PM? That's weak sauce. The portions at that restaurant were weak sauce — I was still hungry. His comeback was total weak sauce. He had nothing.

Weak sauce

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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의미: Something disappointing, pathetic, or insufficiently impressive.

令人失望、可怜或不够出色的东西。

Algo decepcionante, penoso o insuficientemente impresionante.

期待外れで、情けない、または十分にインパクトがないもの。

실망스럽거나, 한심하거나, 충분히 인상적이지 못한 것.

'Weak sauce' is a playful way to express that something doesn't live up to expectations. The metaphor compares a disappointing thing to a flavorless, watered-down sauce. It's milder than 'trash' or 'garbage' — more disappointed than angry. Often used in competitive contexts or when someone puts in minimal effort.

'Weak sauce'是一种俏皮的方式来表达某样东西没有达到预期。这个比喻把令人失望的东西比作一种无味的、稀释过的酱汁。它比'trash'或'garbage'温和——更多是失望而不是愤怒。常用于竞争场合或某人只付出了最低限度的努力时。

'Weak sauce' es una forma divertida de expresar que algo no cumple las expectativas. La metáfora compara algo decepcionante con una salsa insípida y aguada. Es más suave que 'basura' — más decepcionado que enfadado. Se usa a menudo en contextos competitivos o cuando alguien pone el mínimo esfuerzo.

「Weak sauce」は、何かが期待に応えていないことを軽い調子で表現する言い方。味のない、薄められたソースに例えて、がっかりするものを表す。「trash」や「garbage」ほどきつくなく、怒りよりも失望のニュアンスが強い。競争の場面や、誰かが最低限の努力しかしていない時によく使われる。

'Weak sauce'는 뭔가가 기대에 못 미친다는 것을 장난스럽게 표현하는 방법이다. 실망스러운 것을 맛없고 물 탄 소스에 비유한 은유이다. 'trash'나 'garbage'보다 부드럽다 — 화난 것보다는 실망에 가깝다. 주로 경쟁 상황이나 누군가가 최소한의 노력만 들인 경우에 쓰인다.

예문

You're leaving the party at 9 PM? That's weak sauce.
晚上9点就走？太逊了吧。
¿Te vas de la fiesta a las 9 de la noche? Eso es muy flojo.
夜9時にパーティー帰るの？それはショボいな。
밤 9시에 파티에서 간다고? 그건 좀 약하다.
The portions at that restaurant were weak sauce — I was still hungry.
那家餐厅的分量也太少了——吃完还是饿。
Las raciones de ese restaurante eran penosas — me quedé con hambre.
あのレストランの量はショボすぎた——まだお腹空いてたよ。
그 식당 양이 너무 적었어 — 아직도 배고팠다니까.
His comeback was total weak sauce. He had nothing.
他的回击也太没劲了，完全无话可说。
Su respuesta fue totalmente floja. No tenía nada que decir.
彼の反論は完全にショボかった。何も言い返せてなかった。
그의 반박은 완전히 약했어. 할 말이 없었잖아.

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사용 가이드

맥락: disappointment, competition, effort, humor

어조: teasing, disappointed

✓ 올바른 표현

That's weak sauce.
这也太逊了。
Eso es muy flojo.
それはショボいな。
그건 좀 약하다.
Weak sauce, man.
太弱了，兄弟。
Qué flojera, tío.
ショボすぎるだろ。
약하네, 형.

✗ 잘못된 표현

Somewhat dated compared to newer slang like 'mid' — still used but sounds most natural among millennials
跟'mid'等新兴俚语比有些过时——虽然还在用，但在千禧一代中听起来最自然
Algo anticuado comparado con argot más nuevo como 'mid' — se sigue usando pero suena más natural entre millennials
「mid」などの新しいスラングに比べるとやや古い——まだ使われているが、ミレニアル世代の間で最も自然に響く
'mid' 같은 최신 슬랭에 비해 다소 구식이다 — 여전히 쓰이지만 밀레니얼 세대 사이에서 가장 자연스럽게 들린다

기원과 역사

Emerged in American slang in the late 1990s-early 2000s, likely from the contrast between hot sauce (strong, bold) and weak sauce (bland, disappointing). Popularized through internet forums and gaming culture.

문화적 배경

Era: 2000s

Generation: Millennials

Social background: Universal

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