an outrageous idea

USAGE SUMMARY

"an outrageous idea" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a concept or suggestion that is shocking, extreme, or unacceptable. Example: "The proposal to eliminate all regulations was considered an outrageous idea by many experts." Alternative expressions include "a ridiculous notion" and "an absurd suggestion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

That was not an outrageous idea.

The New York Times

He came up with an outrageous idea.

The Guardian - Arts

Representative Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado, said the broad exemption was "an outrageous idea".

The New York Times

And another eurozone crisis in 2014 is far from being an outrageous idea.

The Guardian - Business

I started working with Alton Kelley, an outrageous idea man and artist who was part of a local collective called the Family Dog.

The Guardian

A threat to cut the "privileges" of all car owners, because of the awful behavior of some of them, would rightly be regarded as an outrageous idea.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Kuperberg succeeded with a seemingly outrageous idea; she made each plug "eat its own tail" like a snake so that closed loops get trapped in a kind of infinite regress.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He had a really outrageous idea for what to do, and how we could take our scorched-earth sequel policy from the end of 22 Jump Street and do something that hadn't been explored in those 22 sequels and simultaneously tell the next chapter in the story".

The Guardian - Film

For French jeweler Boucheron, who asked him to propose a design to celebrate its 150th anniversary, Mille came up with a predictably outrageous idea: 30 watches whose internal workings would be made from different precious stones.

Forbes

It's a brilliant and outrageous idea.

The New York Times - Tech

They had spoken a couple of times in recent months, a couple of Joes, about this outrageous idea of returning to coach the Washington Redskins after a 12-year hiatus.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an outrageous idea" to signal a concept that deliberately challenges status quo expectations or social norms. It is particularly effective in narrative hooks or opinion pieces to immediately grab the reader's attention.

Common error

Do not use "an outrageous idea" to describe a suggestion you simply disagree with. Reserve it for concepts that are truly extreme, shocking or seemingly impossible to implement. Overusing it for minor disagreements can diminish the phrase's rhetorical impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an outrageous idea" functions as a complex noun phrase. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as a direct object (e.g. "he came up with "an outrageous idea"") or a subject complement (e.g. "moving the primary is "an outrageous idea""). Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical status as a standard construction consisting of an indefinite article, an evaluative adjective and a concrete/abstract noun.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "an outrageous idea" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase used to denote concepts that are extremely unconventional or shocking. Data from Ludwig reveals that it is a staple of high-level journalism, appearing frequently in The New York Times and The Guardian to characterize everything from political shifts to technological disruptions. While Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically standard, writers should be mindful of its strong emotional weight. It is best used when a proposal truly defies logic or convention. Alternatives like <a href="/s/a+preposterous+notion" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a preposterous notion can be used for a more academic tone, whereas <a href="/s/a+bold+concept" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a bold concept offers a more positive spin on the same level of unconventionality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a preposterous notion

Sounds more formal and academic than the original phrase

an absurd suggestion

Emphasizes the illogical nature of the proposal

a shocking proposal

Directly highlights the emotional or social reaction to the idea

a ludicrous premise

Used when the underlying assumption is seen as laughable

a radical concept

Focuses on the potential for fundamental change rather than just being shocking

a nonsensical plan

Implies that the idea lacks any coherent logic or viability

a bold initiative

Provides a more positive and professional connotation to an unconventional idea

a daring thought

Suggests the idea requires courage to even consider

a wild theory

More informal and often used in speculative or scientific contexts

an unconventional approach

Acts as a diplomatic euphemism for something that might otherwise be called outrageous

FAQs

How to use "an outrageous idea" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a proposal that seems impossible or shocking. For example: "Initially, the plan to build a bridge across the ocean was dismissed as <a href="/s/an+outrageous+idea" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an outrageous idea."

What can I say instead of "an outrageous idea"?

Depending on the tone you want, you can use alternatives like <a href="/s/a+preposterous+notion" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a preposterous notion, <a href="/s/an+absurd+suggestion" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an absurd suggestion or <a href="/s/a+radical+concept" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a radical concept.

Is it more correct to say "a bold idea" or "an outrageous idea"?

Both are correct but carry different connotations. <a href="/s/a+bold+idea" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a bold idea is usually a compliment meaning courageous, while "an outrageous idea" suggests something that might be offensive or totally unrealistic.

Should I use "a" or "an" before outrageous?

You must always use "an" because the word outrageous begins with a vowel sound.