ambitious expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambitious expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe goals or standards that are challenging and require significant effort to achieve. Example: "The team set ambitious expectations for the project, aiming to exceed previous performance metrics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"They have ambitious expectations of the Democrats," Dr. Panagopoulos said.

The New York Times

Sometimes they are worth it, and are able to deliver on ambitious expectations.

The Guardian - Money

Today’s challenge is how to meet those ambitious expectations in an era of diminished state support for higher education.

University of California, Berkeley

The sale was strong but failed to meet Sotheby's ambitious expectations: of the 66 works, 15 failed to find buyers.

The New York Times

Your overly ambitious expectations may be hurting the self-confidence of those on your team, causing your own chronic dissatisfaction, and hindering your organization's resilience.

Harvard Business Review

Ambitious expectations of tax receipts from the Swiss deal followed a similar agreement with Liechtenstein which has delivered £800m — substantially more than expected.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It was also mentioned at this early stage that the original plans were considered to include "over-ambitious expectations … and a lack of clarity and vertical & horizontal linkage in the outcomes as presented in the work plan".

Unicef

The Common Core State Standards in mathematics (CCSSM) are the first step in an ambitious undertaking to create a system where all students meet the same, challenging expectations.

HuffPost

In pointing up the folly of such a project, and possibly managing more ambitious conservationist expectations, the current Lord Onslow surely does the National Trust a favour.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the art market is so buoyant, flush with Russian and Far Eastern money, that even ambitious sales expectations are regularly exceeded.

The Guardian

But do these non-gender-differentiated educational expectations or in some cases more ambitious for expectations for girls coincide with an egalitarian involvement by parents in their sons' and daughters' education?

Comparative Migration Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting objectives, ensure that "ambitious expectations" are balanced with realistic assessments of resources and capabilities to avoid discouragement.

Common error

Avoid setting "ambitious expectations" that are unattainable; regularly reassess and adjust goals to maintain motivation and prevent burnout within a team.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambitious expectations" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "ambitious" modifies the noun "expectations". As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s used to describe goals or standards that are challenging and require significant effort to achieve.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ambitious expectations" is grammatically correct and effectively conveys the idea of setting high and challenging goals. Ludwig AI validates its usability and provides helpful alternatives like "high aspirations" or "lofty goals". While the phrase isn't extremely common, it's frequently found in news, business, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. To avoid potential pitfalls, it's crucial to balance ambition with realism when setting expectations, ensuring that they're challenging yet attainable. This approach can foster motivation and progress while preventing discouragement or burnout.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

high aspirations

Focuses on desires and aims, shifting from expected outcomes to desired achievements.

lofty goals

Emphasizes elevated and aspirational targets, changing the noun to highlight the aim.

challenging goals

Highlights the difficulty level, replacing "ambitious" with a synonym focused on demanding effort.

demanding objectives

Stresses the rigor and exaction involved, using a more formal alternative to "expectations".

stretch targets

Emphasizes goals that require significant effort and expansion beyond current capabilities.

optimistic outlook

Shifts focus to a hopeful perspective or forecast, rather than specific expectations.

grand designs

Implies elaborate and ambitious plans, differing in that it focuses on planning rather than anticipation.

bold visions

Emphasizes imaginative and courageous prospects, changing the noun and adjective.

aggressive targets

Highlights the intensity and drive behind the goals, using a more forceful adjective.

far-reaching aims

Stresses the broad scope and impact of the intended outcomes, using "aims" instead of "expectations".

FAQs

How can I use "ambitious expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "ambitious expectations" to describe challenging goals or standards. For example, "The company set "ambitious expectations" for revenue growth this year".

What is a good alternative to "ambitious expectations"?

Alternatives include "high aspirations", "lofty goals", or "challenging goals", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "ambitious expectations" and "high hopes"?

"Ambitious expectations" refers to specific, challenging goals, while "high hopes" implies a general feeling of optimism without concrete targets.

Is it better to have "ambitious expectations" or realistic ones?

It depends on the situation. While "ambitious expectations" can drive innovation and high performance, realistic expectations are more likely to be met, leading to consistent progress and avoiding disappointment.