all too smoothly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all too smoothly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that occurs with an ease that may seem excessive or suspicious. Example: "The project was completed all too smoothly, raising concerns about whether all the necessary steps had been followed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As the senior deans, Ms. Wehle and Mr. Strozier coast all too smoothly on caricature.

The New York Times

All too smoothly, he sketches a progression from Luther to Rousseau and Nietzsche and thence to the Nazi "worshippers of the magnificent beast in man" and Alfred Rosenberg, the infamous minister of the German-occupied eastern territories and the author of racist theories that radicalized the young Hitler.

The New Yorker

As reality dissolved into an incorporeal intertwining of musical lines, the lovers were incapable of obeying, or even of hearing, Brangane's cry of "Beware!" By Wagnerian design, we in the audience didn't get the message, either: Brangane's warning, with its tones held over many beats, with its chords floating like lanterns in fog, blended all too smoothly with the whole.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It all goes down smoothly, mostly too smoothly.

The New York Times - Books

The album: Jungle What we said: "It all runs very smoothly – perhaps too smoothly for some tastes – but listen past the sheen and the headphone goods are there.

The Guardian - Music

Jungle – Jungle What we said: "It all runs very smoothly – perhaps too smoothly for some tastes – but listen past the sheen and the headphone goods are there".

The Guardian - Music

Too smoothly.

The New York Times

"Everything had almost gone too smoothly from the beginning".

The New York Times - Sports

It feels too smoothly engineered to create an effect.

Independent

Things hadn't gone too smoothly in those games.

The Guardian

Wisdom slid out of her a touch too smoothly.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all too smoothly" when you want to suggest that something happened easily or effortlessly, but with a negative or concerning implication. It often hints at superficiality or a lack of thoroughness.

Common error

Avoid using "all too smoothly" in situations where you simply want to describe something as efficient or easy without implying a negative consequence. In those cases, stick to options like "easily" or "smoothly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all too smoothly" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how an action is performed. It suggests that the action occurred with an ease that is concerning or suspicious, implying superficiality or a lack of thoroughness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe situations where things progress too easily.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all too smoothly" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to describe situations progressing with concerning or suspicious ease. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and signals potential superficiality or overlooked issues. It functions to express skepticism and is predominantly found in neutral to formal contexts, such as news and media. While rare, its specific connotation makes it a valuable tool for critical assessment. Remember to use it when you want to suggest that apparent ease may be hiding underlying problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too easily

Directly replaces "smoothly" with "easily", focusing on the lack of difficulty.

excessively smoothly

Adds emphasis on the excessive nature of the smoothness.

deceptively smoothly

Implies a hidden negative aspect beneath the surface smoothness.

suspiciously smoothly

Highlights a reason to be wary of the easy progress.

with undue ease

Replaces "smoothly" with a more formal phrase for easy progress.

without a hitch

Emphasizes the complete absence of problems or obstacles.

like clockwork

Suggests a mechanical, perhaps artificial, perfection.

without resistance

Highlights the lack of opposition or difficulty encountered.

effortlessly

Focuses on the lack of effort required.

on autopilot

Implies a lack of active engagement or control.

FAQs

How can I use "all too smoothly" in a sentence?

Use "all too smoothly" to describe a situation where something progresses easily, perhaps suspiciously so, often suggesting a lack of depth or hidden problems. For instance, "The negotiations concluded "all too smoothly", raising concerns about potential oversights".

What's the difference between "all too smoothly" and "too smoothly"?

"All too smoothly" emphasizes the excessive ease and often implies a negative consequence or superficiality. "Too smoothly" simply indicates that something is smoother than expected or desired without necessarily suggesting a problem.

Are there synonyms for "all too smoothly"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "too easily", "excessively smoothly", or "suspiciously smoothly" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "all too smoothly" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to express concern or skepticism about something that seems to be progressing without any problems, hinting that something might be overlooked or that the situation may not be as positive as it appears.