both of the foiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of the foiled" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to two items or individuals that have been foiled, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "Both of the foiled plans were ultimately unsuccessful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Israeli officials confirmed both of the foiled plots.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The announcement of the foiled shooting came days after a gunman killed 10 people at a community college in Oregon.

Independent

So far, the initial effect of the foiled bombing on passengers appears to be mild, analysts said.

The New York Times

The disclosures began with an Associated Press article on May 7 , 2012 breaking the news of the foiled plot; the organization had held off publishing it for several days at the White House's request because the intelligence operations were still unfolding.

The New York Times

His account of the foiled Heathrow plot, for example, is "completely and utterly wrong," according to Peter Clarke, who was the head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorism branch in 2006.

The New Yorker

At a hearing on Tuesday, Gen. Keith Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency, said that 90 percent of the foiled terror plots were found through requests for Internet traffic, not through the call records.

The New York Times

Among other things, he was referring to the fact that Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the leader of the foiled 1993 "landmarks" bomb plot against major New York buildings and tunnels, came to the United States in 1990, having escaped a brutal crackdown on Islamists.

The New Yorker

So to many of us, this week's Human Rights Watch report outlining just how many of the foiled terrorist conspiracies were, in reality, sting operations conducted by our own government – well, that came as no surprise.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Paisley, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said officers contacted him to inform him of the foiled attack.

BBC

He is said to have been an architect of the foiled "liquid bomb" plot to explode passenger aircraft over the Atlantic in 2006.

BBC

According to Korner's CEO Steve Hollis, once the story of the foiled robbery hit the news, buyers flooded Amazon and soon the site had sold out of Korner sensors.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "both of the foiled" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "both thwarted attempts" or "both prevented plots".

Common error

Using "foiled" directly after "both of the" creates an unnatural construction. Rephrase to use a stronger verb and clearer structure, such as "both of the attempts were foiled" or "both foiled attempts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of the foiled" is intended to function adjectivally, modifying a noun (like 'plots' or 'attempts'). However, it is considered grammatically awkward and lacks clarity. Ludwig AI points out the unidiomatic nature of this construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "both of the foiled" appears in some news contexts, it is grammatically awkward and not recommended for formal usage. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect. More appropriate alternatives include "both thwarted attempts" or "both prevented plots". When aiming for clarity and correctness, it's crucial to select more precise and natural-sounding phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both thwarted attempts

Replaces "foiled" with "thwarted", emphasizing the prevention of the attempt.

both prevented plots

Uses "prevented" to highlight the act of stopping the plans.

both averted schemes

Replaces "foiled" with "averted", indicating a successful avoidance of a negative outcome.

both unsuccessful endeavors

Focuses on the lack of success rather than the prevention.

both frustrated plans

Highlights the sense of obstruction and failure of the plans.

both circumvented actions

Emphasizes the act of finding a way around the actions.

both neutralized threats

Focuses on eliminating the danger posed by the threats.

both intercepted strategies

Highlights the act of stopping strategies before they can be implemented.

both abandoned projects

Focuses on projects that were given up, implying failure.

both ruined ventures

Emphasizes the destruction or failure of the ventures.

FAQs

What is a better way to say "both of the foiled"?

Alternatives include "both thwarted attempts", "both prevented plots", or "both of the attempts were foiled". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "both of the foiled"?

While understandable, the phrase "both of the foiled" is grammatically awkward. It's better to rephrase for clarity.

How can I use "foiled" correctly in a sentence?

Use "foiled" as a verb (e.g., "The police foiled the plot") or as an adjective describing a noun (e.g., "the foiled plot").

What's the difference between "foiled attempt" and "failed attempt"?

A "foiled attempt" implies that an attempt was prevented from succeeding by an external force. A "failed attempt" simply means the attempt did not succeed, regardless of the reason.