block the draft

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "block the draft" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to preventing the initiation of military conscription or stopping a flow of air or water. Example: "The government is considering measures to block the draft in response to public opposition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

At which point President Zuma's closest aides leapt to his defence, rushing to present Ms Madonsela with notice of a court action to block the draft report's release, on the grounds that the president's domestic security might be compromised.

BBC

So, whatever the House decides on auctioning versus giving away permits, that should not block the Draft bill's passage through the house.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Every time the family closes the apartment door, they rearrange a strip of carpet put there to block the drafts.

The New Yorker

We blocked the draft Communications Data Bill and would do so again.

The Guardian - Tech

Both have criticised Poland, along with Spain, for blocking the draft EU constitution at last month's summit.

The Economist

It is not clear why the company rejected that approach, and lawyers for AWB blocked the draft apology from being made public as part of the commission's record.

The New York Times

A diplomat said Russia blocked the draft text because the UN had failed to speak out when Qusair was seized by rebels.

BBC

The foreign secretary acted after yesterday's Guardian reported him as trying to block the proposed draft bill because of "serious problems" which might make it better to maintain the status quo, despite concern that culpable corporate negligence has rarely been punished severely.

The Guardian

Brockers is another huge, nimble guy who can be difficult to block: this draft class is crawling with them.

The New York Times

The N.F.L. said Clarett's lawyers were wrong to assert that blocking Clarett from the draft until 2005 was an unfair restraint of trade.

The New York Times - Sports

But Sophie In 't Veld, a Dutch member of the European Parliament who helped lead efforts to block the arrangement, said the draft agreement remained unsatisfactory.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "block the draft", ensure the context is clear whether you are referring to preventing military conscription or stopping the flow of air or liquid. Add clarifying details if necessary to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "block the draft" without providing enough context. This phrase can have multiple interpretations (e.g., preventing conscription or stopping airflow). Be specific to ensure your intended meaning is clear to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "block the draft" functions as a verb phrase where "block" is a transitive verb and "the draft" acts as the direct object. This implies an action of preventing or stopping something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "block the draft" is a grammatically correct verb phrase primarily used to express the action of preventing or stopping something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register that can vary based on the specific application. While examples are rare, it's essential to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases include "prevent the conscription" or "stop the draft" for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent the conscription

Focuses on the action of preventing conscription rather than directly blocking a draft.

stop the conscription

Similar to prevent conscription, but uses "stop" which implies halting something already in progress or about to begin.

hinder the draft process

Emphasizes impeding the overall process of a draft instead of a direct block.

obstruct the draft

Uses a stronger verb, "obstruct", suggesting a more forceful prevention.

impede the draft

Similar to hinder but slightly more formal in tone.

suppress the draft

Implies actively preventing the draft from occurring or continuing.

sabotage the draft

Suggests covert actions to undermine the draft.

derail the draft

Uses a metaphor to suggest causing the draft to fail or go off track.

put an end to the draft

Highlights bringing the draft to a complete halt.

abolish the draft

Implies a more formal and permanent end to the draft.

FAQs

What does "block the draft" mean?

The phrase "block the draft" can refer to preventing mandatory military service or stopping the initial creation of such a system. It can also relate to stopping airflow or water flow.

How can I use "block the draft" in a sentence about conscription?

You might say, "Activists are working to "block the draft" by lobbying against new conscription laws." Alternatively, you could use "prevent the conscription".

What's a less ambiguous alternative to "block the draft" when discussing military service?

To be clearer, you could say "oppose conscription" or "prevent military conscription", which explicitly refers to military service.

In what context might "block the draft" refer to something other than military conscription?

Outside of military contexts, "block the draft" might refer to preventing airflow in a building or stopping the preliminary version of a document from being released. You might also use "stop the draft".