avoid at all costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid at all costs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something should be avoided at any cost, which is a strong statement. For example: "Students must avoid cheating at all costs, as the consequences are severe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Something you would want to avoid at all costs".

The New York Times

—Jim Clyburn, the House Majority Whip "It's not something that we avoid at all costs.

The New Yorker

"We have told physicians to avoid at all costs writing it anywhere else," Dr. Cave said.

The New York Times - Health

The Tangle of Accidents Try to avoid, at all costs, having a road accident in Mexico.

The New York Times - Travel

Style, materials - these were things Price the theorist would avoid at all costs.

The Guardian - Arts

He was a self-styled authority on Maltese wines (avoid at all costs).

The Guardian - Travel

I avoid at all costs news stories that detail real-life trauma and heartbreak.

The New York Times

Baseline rallies were a tough position that he needed to avoid at all costs.

The New York Times

I also wanted to avoid at all costs the myriad pitfalls of the true-crime formula.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

And there's the dreaded, avoid-at-all-costs: pre-meeting – where you go over what you're going to talk about at the actual meeting.

The Guardian

Where the attendance of Coleen Rooney and Alex Gerrard signal that a bar is a must-visit, rather than a downmarket avoid-at-all-costs.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "avoid at all costs" to emphasize the critical importance of preventing something. It's a strong warning, so reserve it for situations where the consequences of not avoiding something are severe.

Common error

While impactful, "avoid at all costs" loses its force if used too frequently. Opt for milder alternatives like "try to avoid" or "be cautious of" in less critical situations to preserve the phrase's intensity for when it truly matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid at all costs" functions as an intensifier, adding emphasis to the act of avoiding something. It's used to strongly recommend preventing a particular situation or action. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable in written English to express something should be avoided at any cost.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

17%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid at all costs" is a strong and common way to express the critical importance of preventing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various writing contexts. Its primary function is to strongly advise against something, and it is frequently found in News & Media, as well as general-purpose content like wikis. When using this phrase, remember that overuse can dilute its impact; reserve it for situations where the consequences of inaction are truly dire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Absolutely must be avoided

Emphasizes the necessity of avoidance with the addition of "absolutely".

To be avoided at any price

Replaces "costs" with "price", stressing the value one places on avoidance.

Under no circumstances

Indicates a strict prohibition, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Should be evaded

Uses a more formal term, "evaded", to describe avoidance.

Steer clear of

Another idiomatic expression for keeping distance and avoiding potential problems.

Keep well away from

Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe distance to prevent something undesirable.

Stay far away from

Reinforces the idea of keeping a significant distance to avoid something.

Give a wide berth to

Uses an idiomatic expression suggesting physical or metaphorical distance to prevent contact or involvement.

Must be circumvented

Implies finding a way around something undesirable, highlighting a proactive approach to avoidance.

Something to shun

Replaces the active "avoid" with the more passive "shun", still indicating strong disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid at all costs" in a sentence?

The phrase "avoid at all costs" is used to emphasize that something should be prevented no matter what. For example, "You must "avoid at all costs" making personal attacks during a debate."

What can I say instead of "avoid at all costs"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely must be avoided", "under no circumstances", or "to be avoided at any price" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "avoid at all costs"?

While "avoid" already implies a desire to prevent something, adding "at all costs" intensifies the sentiment. It highlights the critical importance of avoidance and the willingness to go to great lengths to prevent something from happening.

When is it appropriate to use "avoid at all costs"?

Use "avoid at all costs" when the consequences of something happening are extremely negative or dangerous. For less severe situations, softer phrases like "try to avoid" or "be cautious of" may be more appropriate.