a foolish remark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a foolish remark" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a statement that is considered unwise or lacking in good sense. Example: "During the meeting, he made a foolish remark that left everyone in disbelief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Her uninspiring rhetoric, gaffes, and a foolish remark about allowing the "real Julia" to emerge halfway through the campaign (who were we seeing before?) played into often sexist smears that she was a puppet of the hard-right men of her party.

The Guardian - Opinion

He particularly objected to the line, "medicine is broken," calling it a "foolish remark".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The matter that they chose to transcribe was the subject of the notes: it was to be a selection of quotations, a sottisier, or anthology of foolish remarks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cherry resigned from the party and apologised for his "thoughtless and extremely foolish" remarks – which does seem a restrained understatement from the man responsible for conjuring up that richly redolent "sex volcano" image.

Independent

Jenny is in real trouble, and Carey Mulligan, who worked with Sarsgaard in the recent Broadway production of "The Seagull," makes her fallible but brave; her Jenny can make foolish remarks without seeming foolish as a person.

The New Yorker

You could argue that the Business Secretary's foolish remarks about his "war" with Rupert Murdoch were just as bad at one end of the spectrum as Mr Hunt's pro-Murdoch stance at the other.

Independent

The foolish remarks helped galvanize religious conservatives around the country, and they poured millions into the California campaign.

Huffington Post

Emerson famously remarked that "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines".

The New Yorker

Was his comment a foolish one?

The Guardian

As for Jules, she's the boss, though her female employees include a cringing assistant to whom Ben presumes to make remarks about weight, and a foolish woman who can't drive too well.

The Guardian - Film

It was an off-the-cuff remark, it may well have been a foolish one and I apologise for it".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use stronger synonyms, such as "an imprudent statement" or "an ill-advised observation", when describing remarks that carry significant consequences.

Common error

While "a foolish remark" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing the adjective 'foolish' in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like 'injudicious' or 'uncircumspect' to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a foolish remark" functions as a noun phrase, with 'foolish' acting as an adjective modifying the noun 'remark'. This phrase serves to characterize a specific statement as lacking wisdom or good sense. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a foolish remark" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an unwise or imprudent statement. While relatively rare, according to Ludwig, its usage is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When choosing to use this phrase, consider the audience and context, and be mindful of potentially stronger alternatives like "an imprudent statement" for greater impact. Avoid overusing the term 'foolish' in highly formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unwise comment

Replaces 'foolish' with 'unwise', focusing on the lack of wisdom in the statement.

an imprudent statement

Substitutes 'foolish' with 'imprudent', highlighting the lack of careful consideration.

an ill-advised observation

Uses 'ill-advised' instead of 'foolish', emphasizing the poor judgment behind the remark.

a silly comment

Replaces 'foolish' with 'silly', suggesting the remark was lighthearted but inappropriate.

a thoughtless utterance

Focuses on the lack of forethought in making the remark, replacing both 'foolish' and 'remark' with 'thoughtless' and 'utterance'.

a nonsensical assertion

Highlights the lack of logic or reason in the remark, using 'nonsensical' instead of 'foolish' and 'assertion' for 'remark'.

a misguided declaration

Emphasizes the error in judgment behind the remark, replacing 'foolish' with 'misguided'.

a harebrained idea

Shifts the focus to the idea itself being foolish, rather than just the remark.

a reckless statement

Highlights the potential consequences of the remark, suggesting it was made without considering the risks.

a senseless comment

Replaces 'foolish' with 'senseless', indicating that the remark lacked purpose or meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "a foolish remark" in a sentence?

You can use "a foolish remark" to describe something someone said that was unwise or lacked good judgment. For example: "During the debate, the candidate made "a foolish remark" that damaged their credibility."

What are some alternatives to "a foolish remark"?

Some alternatives to "a foolish remark" include "an unwise comment", "an imprudent statement", or "a silly comment", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "a foolish remark" or "a stupid remark"?

Both "a foolish remark" and "a stupid remark" can be used, but "a foolish remark" is generally considered less harsh and more polite. "Stupid" can be seen as more directly insulting, so "foolish" is often a safer choice.

What's the difference between "a foolish remark" and "a naive comment"?

"A foolish remark" implies a lack of wisdom or good judgment, while "a naive comment" suggests a lack of experience or understanding of the world. A naive comment might be innocent and well-intentioned, whereas "a foolish remark" is more likely to be seen as ill-considered.