allow him to block

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allow him to block" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when giving permission for someone to prevent or obstruct something or someone else. Example: "In this game, you need to allow him to block the opponent's moves to protect your team's strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

That might allow him to block controversial decisions.

The Economist

He has also installed free browser extensions, like Adblock Plus, that allow him to block ads and disable online tracking.

The New York Times

California's state insurance commissioner, Dave Jones, who has pushed for state legislation that would allow him to block excessive rate increases, said Blue Shield's action demonstrated the need for the law.

The New York Times - Health

Such moves allow him to block an opponent's attack and then hit him with his weapon.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

His athleticism, which was helped by his background playing volleyball, allowed him to block shots, but he lacked a physical presence.

The New York Times - Sports

Club owners gave Commissioner Bud Selig sweeping new powers yesterday at their meeting in Phoenix, allowing him to block trades and redistribute wealth to restore competitive balance.

The New York Times - Sports

The Yankees agreed to exercise their $6 million option for 2001 on Martinez -- $1 million of which is deferred -- and in return, Martinez agreed to waive a partial no-trade clause that allowed him to block deals to 14 teams.

The New York Times - Sports

President Obama can limit the damage by making full use of a waiver, which allows him to block the penalties if they would threaten national security or cause oil prices to soar.

The New York Times

Mr. Hevesi said that in the last week, his staff had found several "errors and omissions" in the contract application filed by Maximus that allowed him to block the contract on technical grounds.

The New York Times

Since then, his ERA at Fenway is 9.15.... Milwaukee's Ryan Braun has a no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to block a trade to every team except the Dodgers, Angels, Arizona,..

Los Angeles Times

Braun also has a no-trade clause for the first four years, and then a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block deals to 12 teams from 2012 to 2013, and 6 teams from 2014 to 2015.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "allow him to block" when you want to clearly indicate that someone has been given permission or the ability to prevent something from happening. Ensure the context specifies who is granting the permission and what is being blocked.

Common error

Avoid using "allow him to block" when you actually mean that he is inherently capable of blocking something, rather than being granted the permission or ability. Using another term such as "enables" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow him to block" functions as a verb phrase expressing permission or the provision of capability for someone to prevent or obstruct something. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates the granting of authority or means to impede.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allow him to block" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that someone has been granted permission or the means to prevent something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in credible sources like The New York Times and The Economist, mostly in the News & Media context, and its usage is clear and understandable. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines who is granting the permission and what is being blocked. If you're implying capability rather than permission, consider using alternative terms like "enable". Alternatives include "permit him to impede" and "give him the power to prevent".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit him to impede

Replaces "allow" with "permit" and "block" with "impede", offering a slightly more formal tone.

enable him to obstruct

Substitutes "allow" with "enable" and "block" with "obstruct", focusing on providing the means to hinder.

give him the power to prevent

Emphasizes the authority or capacity granted to stop something, rather than just the permission.

authorize him to stop

Focuses on the official approval to halt or prevent an action or process.

let him hinder

A more informal way of saying "allow him to block", using simpler vocabulary.

empower him to resist

Highlights the act of giving someone the strength or authority to oppose something.

grant him leave to preclude

Uses more formal language to express the permission to prevent something from happening.

sanction his ability to halt

Focuses on the approval of his capability to stop something, rather than simply allowing it.

make it possible for him to impede

Shifts the focus to the creation of the possibility of hindering something.

afford him the opportunity to prevent

Highlights providing the chance or occasion to stop something from occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "allow him to block" in a sentence?

This phrase indicates permission or capability to prevent something. For instance, "The new software will "allow him to block" unauthorized access to the system."

What are some alternatives to "allow him to block"?

Consider alternatives such as "permit him to impede", "enable him to obstruct", or "give him the power to prevent" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "permit him blocking" instead of "allow him to block"?

While "allow" can be followed by a gerund (e.g., "allowing blocking"), "permit" typically requires an infinitive (e.g., "permit him to block"). So, "allow him to block" is the standard construction.

What's the difference between "allow him to block" and "enable him to block"?

"Allow" implies granting permission, while "enable" suggests providing the means or capability. The choice depends on whether the focus is on permission or capability. For example, a new rule might "allow him to block" a deal, while new technology might "enable him to block" malicious software.