a shaky foundation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shaky foundation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, argument, or structure that lacks stability or reliability. Example: "The project's success is built on a shaky foundation, making it vulnerable to failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But it's a shaky foundation.

The Guardian

And Britain's education system provides a shaky foundation for prosperity.

The Economist

In lieu of a shaky foundation and painful steps, I prefer the horizontal to the vertical.

The New York Times

Without such material, Facebook's new pillar will be built on a shaky foundation.

The Economist

"The trouble with erotic capital," says Bubnic, "is that it's such a shaky foundation.

The Guardian

A large crack ran almost the length of the courtyard's pavement, evidence, she suspected, of a shaky foundation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

They have a very successful legit business but a very shaky foundation.

Huffington Post

While the primary psychoactive chemical of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is often vilified, fear of its adverse effects has been constantly exaggerated in perpetuation of a global political agenda based on an extremely shaky foundation based solely on ideology and a political agenda, rather than on science.

Huffington Post

Newton's work was based on a very shaky foundation -- dividing zero by itself.

The New York Times - Books

But work -- the kind of work these people can get -- makes for a very shaky foundation.

Huffington Post

The industry likes to talk about all the economic losses from piracy, but those, too, are built on a very shaky foundation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In metaphorical contexts, this phrase works best when followed by 'for' (e.g., "a shaky foundation for success") or preceded by 'built on' to enhance the architectural imagery.

Common error

Avoid using 'a shaking foundation' unless you are describing a literal earthquake. 'Shaking' implies an active, temporary movement, whereas 'shaky' describes an inherent quality of instability.

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "a shaky foundation" acts as a noun phrase, typically functioning as the object of a preposition (often 'on' or 'upon') or as a predicate nominative. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used to qualify the reliability of an abstract concept like a business model, a legal argument or a relationship.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a shaky foundation" is a robust and versatile tool for describing systemic instability. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in top-tier publications to describe everything from flawed economic policies to fragile social networks. Whether used literally in engineering or metaphorically in political critique, it effectively signals that a lack of fundamental support poses a significant risk to the entire structure. Writers should feel confident using this phrase in professional and academic settings to highlight deep-seated vulnerabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shaky foundations

Uses the plural form, which is often preferred when discussing complex systems or multiple underlying issues.

an unstable basis

Provides a more clinical and formal alternative to the idiomatic 'shaky'.

an unsound footing

Focuses on the concept of balance and positioning rather than just structural support.

a weak groundwork

Emphasizes the preliminary work or preparation that led to the current state.

a precarious base

Highlights the danger and risk of imminent collapse.

a fragile starting point

Suggests that the beginning of a venture was delicate and easily broken.

an unreliable core

Focuses on the internal or central part of a structure being untrustworthy.

a flimsy premise

Specifically applied to arguments, theories or narratives rather than physical structures.

a rocky start

A more informal idiom focusing on initial difficulties.

a suspect origin

Implies doubt or skepticism regarding where something began.

FAQs

How to use "a shaky foundation" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a precarious situation, such as: "The company's rapid expansion was built on a shaky foundation of debt."

What can I say instead of "a shaky foundation"?

Depending on your context, you might use "<a href="/s/an+unstable+basis" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unstable basis", "<a href="/s/an+unsound+footing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an unsound footing" or "<a href="/s/a+precarious+base" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a precarious base".

Is it "a shaky foundation" or "shaky foundations"?

Both are correct. Use "<a href="/s/shaky+foundations" target="_blank" rel="alternative">shaky foundations" when referring to multiple supporting elements or when speaking generally about the base of a large entity.

What's the difference between "a shaky foundation" and "a weak start"?

While "<a href="/s/a+weak+start" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a weak start" refers to initial performance, "a shaky foundation" refers to the structural or logical flaws that make future success unlikely regardless of how it started.