all proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all proportion" is not correct in English; it is typically used as part of the expression "all out of proportion." You can use it when discussing something that is exaggerated or not in balance with reality.
Example: "His reaction to the minor mistake was all out of proportion to the actual issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's out of all proportion".

The New York Times

report were "blown out of all proportion".

The Guardian - Business

He idolised it out of all proportion".

The Guardian - Arts

"This is out of all proportion".

The Guardian

Make that, "He romanticised it out of all proportion".

The Guardian - Arts

The rows were out of all proportion to events.

The Guardian

It's been blown out of all proportion by the media".

The Guardian - Sport

It was blown up out of all proportion".

The Guardian - Sport

It is out of all proportion to its surroundings.

The Guardian - Opinion

Every argument was blown out of all proportion.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nielsen and his collaborators also recorded the over-all proportion of women in each author group.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as disproportionate, use the complete phrase "out of all proportion" or "blown out of all proportion" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. This emphasizes that the item's size, reaction, or importance does not match its context.

Common error

A frequent mistake is to shorten "out of all proportion" to just "all proportion". Always include "out of" or "blown out of" to maintain the correct idiomatic meaning and avoid grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all proportion" by itself does not have a clearly defined grammatical function. However, when used within the idiomatic expressions "out of all proportion" or "blown out of all proportion", it forms part of an adjective phrase describing something that is imbalanced or exaggerated, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all proportion" is most often encountered within the established idioms "out of all proportion" or "blown out of all proportion". Ludwig AI points out the incorrect usage of "all proportion" on its own. It's essential to include "out of" or "blown out of" to maintain grammatical correctness and convey the intended meaning of imbalance or exaggeration. As demonstrated by the numerous examples on Ludwig, this phrase predominantly appears in news and media contexts, serving to emphasize a lack of balance or reason in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

out of all proportion

Adds the explicit 'out of' element, emphasizing the imbalance or exaggeration more directly.

blown out of all proportion

Specifies that the situation has been exaggerated, often by external forces or discussion.

disproportionate

A single-word adjective describing something that lacks proper proportion.

unbalanced

Focuses on the lack of equilibrium or harmony.

exaggerated

Highlights the overstatement or amplification of something beyond its actual size or importance.

excessive

Indicates that something is beyond what is considered normal, appropriate, or necessary.

unreasonable

Focuses on the lack of logical or rational basis for the proportion or scale.

inordinate

Similar to excessive, but often implies a moral or ethical judgment.

overblown

Suggests something has been inflated to an unrealistic or unwarranted degree.

unjustified

Emphasizes that the proportion or scale is not supported by facts or reason.

FAQs

What does "out of all proportion" mean?

It means something is exaggerated or not in balance with the reality or context. It suggests a lack of reasonable relationship between cause and effect or size and importance.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "out of "all proportion""?

Use "out of all proportion" when you want to emphasize that something is excessively large, intense, or unreasonable compared to what is expected or warranted. For instance, “His anger was out of "all proportion" to the minor offense”.

What's a more formal alternative to "blown out of "all proportion""?

For a more formal tone, consider using "disproportionate" or "exaggerated". These alternatives convey a similar meaning without the idiomatic feel of "blown out of "all proportion"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "all proportion"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct and commonly accepted forms are "out of all proportion" or "blown out of all proportion". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase "all proportion" is often used incorrectly.