combat expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "combat expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of challenging or countering preconceived notions or assumptions about a situation. Example: "In her presentation, she aimed to combat expectations about the capabilities of the new technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Europe's central bank raised its main interest rate target by a quarter point in July, to 4.25percentto to combat expectations of rising inflation, and it has held out the possibility it might do so again, despite slowing growth.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Kansas City Fed president, Thomas M. Hoenig, is not a voting member of the policy committee this year but has consistently voiced concerns about the need to combat inflationary expectations.

The New York Times

A combination of education and communication to combat patients' expectations for treatment, and the physicians' appropriate prescription for antibiotics can halt inappropriate antibiotic use in children.

BMC Family Practice

"The one thing we always had to combat was the expectations of our members.

The New York Times

Penned in by economic hardship, two costly wars and unfunded liabilities that threaten to overwhelm the nation's already drowned balance sheet, the toughest thing he'll have to combat are the high expectations surrounding his campaign promises.

Forbes

So how can we manage these expectations and combat the added pressure?

Huffington Post

When President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind legislation, he expressed his hope that it would combat the "soft bigotry of low expectations".

The New York Times

Moreover, annual testing has revealed the unacceptable disparity in educational opportunities between students in wealthy districts and low-income students of color, giving us as educators the urgency to combat the "soft bigotry of low expectations".

Huffington Post

Although it is only about 30+days since combat operations ceased, public percetion and expectation is critical in maintaing security.

The Guardian

The framing of the American Muslim community as a mere tool to combat terrorism puts an undue pressure and expectation upon Muslim citizens in this country.

Huffington Post

The repo rate increase, which was in line with market expectations, was seen as an attempt to combat the severe price pressures that plague Asia's third-largest economy, after China and Japan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "combat expectations", ensure the context clearly defines what expectations are being challenged or addressed. Providing specific examples of the expectations being combatted can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "combat expectations" when a milder term like "manage expectations" is more appropriate. "Combat" implies a more forceful opposition, so reserve it for situations where expectations are actively hindering progress or causing problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "combat expectations" functions as a verb phrase, where "combat" acts as a transitive verb taking "expectations" as its direct object. The phrase describes an action taken to challenge or counter existing anticipations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "combat expectations" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that signifies actively challenging or countering existing beliefs or anticipations. According to Ludwig, its usage spans diverse contexts, including news, science, and business, indicating a neutral register. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by defining the specific expectations being addressed and considering alternatives like "challenge expectations" or "manage expectations" for milder situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counteract expectations

Focuses on directly opposing or neutralizing expectations.

challenge expectations

Emphasizes questioning or disputing existing expectations.

manage expectations

Highlights the act of controlling or influencing expectations to a reasonable level.

defy expectations

Implies acting in a way that is contrary to what is expected.

exceed expectations

Signifies surpassing or going beyond what was anticipated.

surpass expectations

Implies going beyond what was originally expected, similar to "exceed expectations" but with a slightly different nuance.

moderate expectations

Suggests adjusting expectations to be more realistic.

reshape expectations

Indicates a significant alteration of existing expectations.

meet expectations

Focuses on fulfilling what is expected.

lower expectations

Suggests reducing the level of anticipated outcomes.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "combat expectations" in a sentence?

Use "combat expectations" when you want to convey the idea of actively challenging or opposing preconceived notions about something. For instance, "The new policy aims to combat expectations about the company's performance."

What are some alternative phrases to "combat expectations"?

You can use alternatives like "counteract expectations", "challenge expectations", or "manage expectations" depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "combat expectations"?

It's appropriate to use "combat expectations" when you're dealing with situations where existing expectations are creating obstacles or are unrealistic and need to be actively addressed or changed.

What is the difference between "combat expectations" and "manage expectations"?

"Combat expectations" implies a more forceful opposition to existing expectations, whereas "manage expectations" suggests a more controlled or influenced approach to keep them within reasonable limits.