a crude idea

USAGE SUMMARY

"a crude idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an initial, basic, and often unsophisticated notion. For example, "My first thought was to throw a party, but it was only a crude idea."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

At that time, I had only a crude idea of what was involved.

The Guardian

"We are only just beginning to appreciate the complexity involved and still have only a crude idea of what is going on in the undersea acoustic environment".

Vice

It is just a visual comparison (as in Table 3) to get a crude idea for the interpretation of results.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

However, note that our focus is on re-sequencing studies, and if we have even a crude idea on the genomic coordinates of the BACs, we can approximate that missing information by using the reference sequence.

Bioinformatics

The 10-year Framingham CHD risk for an individual only gives a crude idea of the likely impact of treatment or smoking cessation on an individual's life as it does not take into account the impact of competing causes of death, in particular other significant causes of mortality related to smoking.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But the analysts at rand considered massive retaliation a pathetically crude idea, an atomic-age version of Roosevelt's big stick.

The New Yorker

Lately we have been combining all three methods: I present a very crude idea in clay, that is then digitally and accurately interpreted in Rhino 3D, with the linear elements superimposed using Sketch Up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Morrison's attack on Labor's policy was similar to the dire warnings from Turnbull who claimed in February that homeowners across the country would see the value of their homes "smashed" by Labor's "very blunt, very crude" idea.

The Guardian

Philosophers, by contrast, may wonder which serious thinkers, as she seems to suggest, have ever nailed their colours to the crude idea that deciding for ourselves means deciding outside any rules or without regard to others.In the last four chapters she gets down to cases.

The Economist

A certain mystery surrounds Obama's perpetuation of Bush's economic policies, in the absence of the reactionary class loyalty that accompanied them, and his expansion of Bush's war policies in the absence of the crude idea of the enemy and the spirited love of war that drove Bush.

Huffington Post

"Wouldn't that be much funnier?" Tatum asked them, before offering the team a string of crude ideas — almost all involving the body parts of elderly women — for their next sketch.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a crude idea", ensure the context makes it clear that you are referring to an initial or undeveloped concept, rather than something intentionally offensive.

Common error

Avoid using "a crude idea" when you actually mean a malicious or offensive one. "Crude" primarily signifies a lack of refinement, not inherent malice. Instead, consider using words like "offensive" or "malicious" to accurately describe the intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crude idea" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "crude" modifies the noun "idea". This phrase typically describes a concept that is basic, undeveloped, or lacking in sophistication. As shown by Ludwig, it suggests an early or initial stage of thought.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a crude idea" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an undeveloped or unsophisticated concept. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and suggests it is most often found in News & Media and Science contexts. Related phrases, such as "a rough concept" or "a basic notion", offer similar meanings with slight variations. When using this phrase, remember that "crude" refers to a lack of refinement rather than inherent offensiveness. Overall, while not extremely common, "a crude idea" is a valid and useful phrase for expressing the preliminary nature of a concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a rough concept

Focuses on the undeveloped or preliminary nature of the idea.

a basic notion

Emphasizes the fundamental or elementary quality of the idea.

an unrefined thought

Highlights the lack of polish or sophistication in the idea.

a primitive concept

Suggests the idea is in its earliest stage of development.

a rudimentary plan

Implies the idea is a basic framework needing further elaboration.

a simplistic view

Indicates the idea oversimplifies a complex issue.

a half-baked scheme

Suggests the idea is poorly thought out and likely to fail.

a sketchy proposal

Emphasizes the lack of detail and potential flaws in the idea.

a raw concept

Highlights the unpolished and unprocessed nature of the idea.

a naive belief

Suggests the idea is based on an innocent or unsophisticated understanding.

FAQs

What does "a crude idea" mean?

The phrase "a crude idea" refers to a concept that is basic, undeveloped, or lacks refinement. It implies that the idea is in its early stages and may need further development.

How can I use "a crude idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a crude idea" to describe a preliminary concept, such as, "My initial business plan was just "a crude idea", but it evolved over time."

What are some alternatives to saying "a crude idea"?

Alternatives to "a crude idea" include phrases like "a rough concept", "a basic notion", or "an unrefined thought", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a crude idea" in formal writing?

While "a crude idea" is grammatically correct, it might be better to use more formal alternatives, such as "a preliminary concept" or "an unrefined proposal", in formal writing contexts.