be tailor-made for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be tailor-made for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been specifically designed or customized for a particular purpose or individual. Example: "This software is tailor-made for small businesses looking to streamline their operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Organs could be tailor-made for people.

The New York Times - Health

"But it has proved to be tailor-made for politics".

Independent

It all makes for an outlandish spectacle that could be tailor-made for the festive season.

The Guardian

His platform manner, impassioned, flamboyant, endlessly enthusiastic, could be tailor-made for gargantuan scores like this.

The Guardian - Music

Such treatments could be tailor-made for each patient from his or her own cells.

The New York Times

Washington's appeal now would seem to be tailor-made for them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Her shot was tailor-made for a save, and Hedvig Lindahl made it.

The Guardian - Sport

Easily made puns aside, the story was tailor-made for "conservative journalism".

Huffington Post

The business is tailor-made for Italians".

The Economist

The doctrine is tailor-made for Americans.

The New Yorker

"It's tailor-made for him.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be tailor-made for" to emphasize that something is exceptionally suitable or perfectly designed for a specific purpose or individual. It implies a high degree of customization and appropriateness.

Common error

Avoid using "be tailor-made for" when a simpler phrase like "suitable for" would suffice. The idiom is strongest when emphasizing a perfect, almost destined, match. Save it for when the fit is truly exceptional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be tailor-made for" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the suitability or perfect fit of something or someone for a specific purpose or role. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

39%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be tailor-made for" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to express that something is perfectly suited or designed for a specific purpose or individual. According to Ludwig AI, its frequency is "Common" and primarily used in news media and science contexts. When writing, it's best to reserve this idiom for instances where the fit is truly exceptional, and to avoid using it when simpler alternatives suffice. Some possible alternatives include "be ideally suited to" or "be a perfect fit for".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be ideally suited to

Emphasizes ideal compatibility but uses different phrasing.

be a perfect fit for

Highlights the aspect of fitting seamlessly, differing slightly in focus.

be custom-designed for

Focuses on the aspect of something being specifically created for a certain purpose or person.

be made to order for

Suggests a higher degree of intentional design or preparation.

be just the ticket for

An idiomatic alternative that conveys suitability, but has a more informal tone.

be a natural for

Implies an inherent compatibility or predisposition.

be a good match for

Suggests a balanced pairing where elements complement each other.

be right up someone's alley

An informal expression indicating that something is perfectly suited to someone's interests or abilities.

be perfectly adapted to

Focuses on adaptation as the reason for suitability, rather than inherent design.

be well-suited for

A more generic phrase that denotes suitability without the implication of being custom-made.

FAQs

How can I use "be tailor-made for" in a sentence?

Use "be tailor-made for" to describe something that's perfectly suited for a specific purpose or person. For example, "This software is tailor-made for small businesses."

What can I say instead of "be tailor-made for"?

You can use alternatives like "be ideally suited to", "be a perfect fit for", or "be custom-designed for" depending on the context.

When should I use "be tailor-made for" versus "be suitable for"?

"Be tailor-made for" emphasizes a perfect, almost custom fit, while "be suitable for" simply indicates adequacy. Use "be tailor-made for" when highlighting exceptional appropriateness.

Is "be tailor-made to" grammatically correct instead of "be tailor-made for"?

While less common, "be tailor-made to" can be used, but "be tailor-made for" is the more standard and widely accepted phrasing. For example: "The treatment needs to be tailor-made for each patient".