Downright rubbish

We always get at least one every year.

The downright rubbish present is always good for a laugh, but not much else: XL reindeer sweaters, singing socks, Hawaiian shirts so loud you can’t hear the laughter all around, or the ultimate rubbish present: what you gave them 2 years ago – payback! It may have gathered dust at the back of a cupboard for 2 years but it can still come back to haunt you… 

A real howler implies that the person really doesn’t care about you….who in their right mind would give anyone a reindeer jumper? (Someone who hasn’t seen Bridget Jones’ Diary, we hear you cry! Sorry, but still, there are no excuses).