concocted charges

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "concocted charges" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe accusations or claims that are fabricated or made up, often implying deceit or manipulation. Example: "The defendant argued that the concocted charges were an attempt to tarnish his reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Then they concocted charges so they could send him to an actual jail".

The New York Times

We, at Mangia, are profoundly shocked and dismayed to find egregious and maliciously concocted charges of anti-Semitism and verbal abuse against a former employee are credible and/or plausible to any of our supporters and patrons.

HuffPost

Other Russians are arrested on concocted charges, a tactic designed to intimidate the increasingly alienated urban middle class.

The New York Times

India has argued that he was kidnapped by Pakistan while he was in Iran and has been tried on "concocted charges".

BBC

But when he railed about something, he relied on quotes, polls, statistics and history (unlike the concocted charges offered by Beck as facts) to make his points.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"You cannot go about concocting charges, trumping up charges against people who are innocent.

The New York Times

Brotherhood spokesmen said the new government was concocting charges to justify repression — a common tactic before the overthrow of Mr. Mubarak.

The New York Times

He said he could only conclude that political enemies in the attorney general's office were concocting charges against him.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Attorney General Holder is working hard to concoct charges to bring against WikiLeaks, notwithstanding the fact that in the United States, it is not, at least as of now, a crime to publish classified government information (lucky for Woodward, the Times, CNN and every other major news outlet).

Huffington Post

The three men say the parent union's president, Vincent J. Giblin, concocted the charges against them because they accused a friend of his — the apprenticeship coordinator, Dennis Lundy — of wrongly taking $2,350.

The New York Times

Anwar insists the government concocted the charge that he sodomised a 25-year-old male former aide.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "concocted charges", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the charges are believed to be fabricated and not based on factual evidence. This enhances the impact of your statement and avoids potential misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "concocted charges" in highly formal or legal documents where a more neutral or precise term like "fabricated allegations" or "unsubstantiated claims" might be more appropriate. "Concocted" can sometimes sound less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "concocted charges" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "concocted" modifies the noun "charges". It is used to describe accusations that are not based on truth or fact, and it often implies an intent to deceive. Ludwig provides numerous examples to support this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "concocted charges" is a noun phrase used to describe accusations that are fabricated or invented, often with the intention to deceive. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, it’s important to ensure the context clearly indicates the charges are believed to be false. Alternatives like "fabricated accusations" or "invented allegations" can be used for a more formal tone. Overall, "concocted charges" is a useful and widely understood phrase for expressing skepticism about the validity of claims.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fabricated accusations

Focuses on the act of fabrication or invention of the accusations.

invented allegations

Highlights the creation of the allegations from nothing.

trumped-up charges

Emphasizes the exaggeration or inflation of the charges to make them seem more serious.

manufactured allegations

Stresses the deliberate construction of the allegations.

false claims

General term for claims that are untrue.

contrived accusations

Highlights the artificial and planned nature of the accusations.

made-up charges

Simple and direct way to say the charges are not real.

baseless allegations

Implies the allegations lack any foundation or evidence.

groundless accusations

Similar to baseless, indicating no support for the accusations.

cooked-up charges

Informal way to say the charges were created dishonestly.

FAQs

What does "concocted charges" mean?

"Concocted charges" refers to accusations or claims that are fabricated, invented, or deliberately created, often with the intent to deceive or harm someone's reputation. It implies that the charges are not based on true facts or evidence.

What can I say instead of "concocted charges"?

You can use alternatives like "fabricated accusations", "invented allegations", or "trumped-up charges" depending on the context.

How to use "concocted charges" in a sentence?

You can use "concocted charges" in a sentence like this: "The defendant argued that the charges against him were "concocted charges" designed to ruin his career."

What's the difference between "concocted charges" and "unfounded accusations"?

"Concocted charges" implies a deliberate creation or invention of accusations, whereas "unfounded accusations" simply means the accusations lack a solid basis or evidence. Concocted suggests intent, while unfounded suggests a lack of support.