betray expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

'betray expectations' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to someone or something failing to meet or live up to a certain expectation. For example, "The poor performance of the team betrayed expectations of a winning season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the bunny stays in the picture: "If you call something Fatal Attraction but rewrite it to the point of leaving out iconic instances, you betray expectations".               .

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Personal and family greed, cronyism, thievery combined with hypocrisy are in the genes of illiberal autocracy; and in many countries betrayed expectations of a selfless strongman have led to a civic awakening.

The Washington Post

Publishing then becomes timid, fearing to be adventurous and revolutionary lest it betray the expectations of its market.

The Guardian - Books

He would also be betraying the expectations of the entire Arab world.

The Economist

So of course it comes as a brutal shock when women of a certain age, no matter how youthful looking, find biology has betrayed their expectations.

The New York Times

He did not abide by the terms of the agreement; he betrayed the expectations of a couple of hundred politicians, peaceful men who desired only to be swept along for a while by the inertia of optimism and then to be freed promptly to go and spend the 7 August holiday with their families.

The Guardian - Books

It betrayed the expectations of the people, that is, the purge of traitors.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

In the messages, the two men applaud Le Pen's endorsement, saying that the party leader "has not betrayed our expectations".

Vice

" Though the perceived wisdom around the set is that Cher was moonstruck by the script, the raven-haired star will admit that she was pragmatically wary of it--partly out of some fear of betraying audience expectations of her.

Los Angeles Times

The new batch of marriage books suggest that today's women are betrayed by great expectations — they expect matrimony to provide them with happiness, something that may be much harder to achieve than extending the franchise to women or outlawing marital rape.

The New Yorker

He, too, is seeking with other farmers to develop an alternative to the "USDA Organic" seal which, he believes, betrays consumer expectation.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs like 'shatter' or 'undermine' if you wish to add emphasis to the failure of meeting expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "betray expectations" when a milder term like "disappoint" is more appropriate. "Betray" implies a stronger sense of broken trust or failure to meet a significant anticipation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "betray expectations" functions as a verb phrase where "betray" is the verb and "expectations" is the direct object. This describes the action of failing to meet or live up to a particular anticipation. As Ludwig AI highlights, this usage is correct and refers to failing to meet certain expectations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "betray expectations" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of failing to meet anticipated outcomes or trust. While identified as correct by Ludwig AI, and infrequent in occurrence, it carries a strong emotional charge. Its primary function is to express disappointment or criticism, fitting within both neutral and slightly formal registers. When using this phrase, consider whether the intensity of "betray" aligns with the intended message, or if a milder term like "disappoint" would be more appropriate. Reputable news outlets like The New York Times and academic sources occasionally employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short of expectations

Focuses on the failure to reach a desired level or standard.

disappoint expectations

Emphasizes the feeling of disappointment resulting from unmet expectations.

undermine expectations

Suggests a weakening or subversion of what was anticipated.

defy expectations

Indicates a direct contradiction or resistance to what was predicted.

violate expectations

Highlights a breach of established norms or anticipations.

go against expectations

Presents a contrast or opposition to what was foreseen.

belie expectations

Implies that something contradicts or disguises the true expectations.

prove expectations wrong

Indicates that expectations were not accurate or correct.

dash hopes

Focuses on the destruction of hope related to expectations.

shatter illusions

Indicates the complete destruction of previously held positive expectations.

FAQs

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

You can use "betray expectations" to describe a situation where someone or something fails to meet the anticipated outcome or trust. For example, "The company's poor financial results betrayed expectations of strong growth."

What is a similar phrase to "betray expectations"?

Similar phrases include "fall short of expectations", "disappoint expectations", or "undermine expectations".

Is "betray expectations" formal or informal?

"Betray expectations" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it carries a slightly stronger emotional charge than more neutral alternatives.

What's the difference between "betray expectations" and "disappoint expectations"?

"Betray expectations" implies a more significant breach of trust or a greater failure to meet anticipated outcomes than "disappoint expectations", which suggests a milder sense of unmet anticipation.