brisk tempo

USAGE SUMMARY

"brisk tempo" is a commonly accepted phrase that is used in written English.
You can use it to talk about the speed of movement or activity. For example, "She worked through the task at a brisk tempo."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

"He's not going to go underground," she said firmly, rocking the baby at a brisk tempo.

The New York Times

Buchholz struggled to keep a brisk tempo, dawdling on the mound with runners on base.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Tetzlaff set a brisk tempo in the first movement of the Mendelssohn.

The New York Times - Arts

Though Mr. Wosner took a brisk tempo, his playing was lithe and articulate.

The New York Times - Arts

The brisk tempo that Mr. Nézet-Séguin set in the Saltarello finale might have been dangerous.

The New York Times - Arts

The brisk tempo in the first movement comes across as urgent, not rushed.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

He pulls the famous Opus 10, No. 3, for example, out of the feverish, sentimental swamp to which most pianists consign it and restores Chopin's brisker tempo.

The New York Times - Arts

Textures thicken, and the pace picks up by the end of the movement, but the drone remains until a sudden modulation and a brisker tempo kick the work into Part 2, a study of contrapuntally overlaid (and eventually shape-shifting) arpeggios.

The New York Times - Arts

But the Miami version — danced at a brisker tempo, with a more slicing attack and with ultrabright musicality — is, as when I saw this company dance the ballet in the mid-1990s, the best account of this masterpiece I have seen since its maker's death.

The New York Times - Arts

Several times they hit on a brisk swing tempo, which burbled a while before dissolving into vapor.

The New York Times - Arts

Here and in the other three Pärt scores he uses here, he continually imposes a brisk dance tempo on top of essentially slow music.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "brisk tempo" when describing a pace that is noticeably quick and energetic, particularly in music, sports, or general activities. For example, "The conductor led the orchestra at a "brisk tempo", filling the hall with vibrant energy."

Common error

Avoid using "brisk tempo" to describe a pace that seems unnaturally fast or rushed, as this can imply a lack of control or finesse. Instead, consider using terms like "forced tempo" or "rushed pace" to convey this sense of unease.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brisk tempo" functions as an adjective-noun combination modifying an activity's speed or pace. Ludwig AI indicates its accepted usage in describing energetic movement, particularly in music and other performance contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Arts

30%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "brisk tempo" is a common and accepted way to describe a quick and energetic pace, primarily used in the context of music, sports, and general activities. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in reputable news sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While synonyms such as "quick pace" or "lively speed" can be used for variety, "brisk tempo" provides a clear and effective way to convey a sense of energy and speed. Remember to differentiate a "brisk tempo" from a forced or rushed one to ensure accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quick pace

Replaces "brisk" with "quick", maintaining the meaning of a fast rhythm.

lively speed

Substitutes both words for synonyms emphasizing energy and swiftness.

rapid rate

Emphasizes the speed of the tempo using "rapid" as a synonym for "brisk".

swift rhythm

Focuses on the rhythmic aspect of the tempo, highlighting its speed.

accelerated pace

Implies an increasing tempo, adding a dynamic element.

energetic rhythm

Highlights the energetic quality of the rhythm, replacing the direct reference to speed.

prompt cadence

Uses a more formal term, "cadence", to refer to rhythm and replaces "brisk" with "prompt".

fast clip

Uses the informal term "clip" to mean pace, maintaining the sense of speed.

zippy tempo

Emphasizes the lively and energetic nature of the tempo, using a more informal adjective.

fleet pace

Uses "fleet" to describe the quickness of the pace.

FAQs

How is "brisk tempo" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "brisk tempo" is usually used to describe the speed or pace of an activity, particularly in music, sports, or general tasks. For example, "The music was played at a "brisk tempo", making it perfect for dancing."

What are some synonyms for "brisk tempo"?

Alternatives to "brisk tempo" include phrases like "quick pace", "lively speed", or "rapid rate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "brisk tempo" formal or informal language?

"Brisk tempo" is considered relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the piece.

What's the difference between "brisk tempo" and "allegro"?

"Brisk tempo" is a general English phrase describing a quick pace, while "allegro" is a specific musical term indicating a fast tempo. While they both relate to speed, "allegro" is confined to musical contexts, while "brisk tempo" can be more widely applied.