bound to be late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bound to be late" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is certain to arrive later than expected. Example: "With the traffic jam on the highway, I am bound to be late for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

And in the case of the president, it is an example of why a more concrete statement on race would have helped contextualise what is bound to be the latest flashpoint of race in America – but not the last.

The Guardian - Opinion

But James Trainum, a retired D.C. homicide detective who reinvestigated the Freeway Phantom case in the mid-2000s, Sundayunday that the killer nearly 50 years ago "was pretty much dumping the victims out in the open, in places where they were bound to be discovered". These latest remains were all hidden.

The Washington Post

We'll hear a few of these tunes on some "Indie Rock Favorites" compilation that's bound to be sold on late-night cable.

Huffington Post

Her teacher has been scrambling to teach these concepts over the past few weeks to get the 8-year-olds ready, but it's bound to be too little, too late.

The Economist

HEALING the wounds incurred during Northern Ireland's "Troubles" was bound to be slow, but the latest attempt to do so may actually have set things back a bit.

The Economist

The bottom line is that if you need serious backup juice in a relatively small package that's bound to be reliable, Mophie's latest delivers.

TechCrunch

Having done so, he felt bound to be unusually public with the latest incremental development in October, when a new batch of emails was found on Anthony Weiner's computer.

Huffington Post

A child who is left with a stranger because his parents have to have the latest BMW is bound to be resentful and angry as an adult, and this will show in his relationships.

The New York Times

However, the latest news is bound to be treated with scepticism from those in the anti-doping world who continue to believe that Wada is bending over backwards to help Russia.

The Guardian - Sport

The costs of any such meltdowns are difficult to estimate, but when all is said and done the latest one is bound to be judged one of the more expensive.

The Economist

THERE have been so many aborted take-offs that Japan's latest economic recovery is bound to be greeted with scepticism.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bound to be late" to express a high degree of certainty about someone's delayed arrival, especially when external factors contribute to the delay.

Common error

While grammatically sound, excessively using "bound to be" can make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for alternatives like "certain to be" or "sure to be" in formal reports or presentations to enhance readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bound to be late" functions as a predictive adjective phrase. It is used to express a high degree of certainty that someone or something will arrive or occur after the expected time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bound to be late" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate a high probability of someone arriving late. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical soundness. While relatively infrequent, its usage spans from news and media to general contexts. Consider related phrases like "certain to be delayed" or "likely to be late" for stylistic variation. Avoid overusing it in highly formal settings for better readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will definitely be late

Uses a more direct and emphatic construction with "definitely".

certain to be delayed

Emphasizes the certainty of the delay rather than the lateness itself.

will likely be late

Indicates a high probability of lateness, without absolute certainty.

is expected to be late

Indicates an expectation of lateness, often based on prior knowledge.

sure to be tardy

Replaces "late" with "tardy", adding a slightly more formal tone.

probably will be late

Similar to 'likely', but uses the adverb 'probably'.

guaranteed to be behind schedule

Focuses on the aspect of being behind schedule, implying a formal timeline.

destined to arrive late

Highlights the inevitability of arriving late, suggesting fate or destiny.

fated to be delayed

Similar to 'destined', but uses 'delayed' instead of 'late'.

is running late

Implies the process of becoming late is currently happening.

FAQs

What does "bound to be late" mean?

The phrase "bound to be late" means that someone is very likely or certain to arrive later than expected due to circumstances or a high probability.

What can I say instead of "bound to be late"?

You can use alternatives like "certain to be delayed", "sure to be tardy", or "likely to be late" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "bound to being late"?

No, "bound to being late" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "bound to be late", where "be" is the infinitive form of the verb.

How can the phrase "bound to be late" be used in a sentence?

You can use the phrase to express certainty about lateness: "Given the heavy traffic, she's "bound to be late"".