defying all expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defying all expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or outcome that surpasses what was anticipated or predicted. Example: "The underdog team won the championship, defying all expectations and proving their critics wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Defying all expectations and résumé comparisons, the Lakers chose D'Antoni.

The New York Times - Sports

But that "win" was awarded on the basis of defying all expectations (and polling) with a virtual tie.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 1993, Nirvana appeared on MTV Unplugged, defying all expectations by playing both their and other artists' lesser known work, and definitely not 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Independent

George Osborne has given the lie to that by defying all expectations and reaching across the Atlantic to fill the governorship of the Bank of England.

The Guardian - Opinion

And last weekend, defying all expectations, Congress voted to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay soldiers in the military.

The Guardian

(Party slogans betrayed more than a hint of desperation: "Let's Eat Two Meals a Day" was one of the era's more uplifting exhortations). Yet Kim Jong Il, defying all expectations, managed to cling to power.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

True experiment in ballet is a curious thing: it relies on familiar vocabulary while defying all expectation.

The New York Times - Arts

He would answer them fairly emphatically, steadying the ship to steer his team to second place in the Premier League, before defying all expectation by winning it the following season and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

The Guardian - Sport

The 2012 Golden Globe Awards went as expected for the film nominees -- and defied all expectations when it came to TV winners.

Huffington Post

They have defied all expectations.

The New York Times

Corbyn had defied all expectations.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defying all expectations" to emphasize a surprising or unexpected positive outcome. This phrase is most effective when highlighting an underdog's success or an unforeseen achievement.

Common error

While "defying all expectations" is impactful, avoid using it too frequently in a single piece of writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for synonyms like "exceeding expectations" or "surpassing all predictions" to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defying all expectations" functions as a descriptive modifier, often used to characterize a noun or event that contradicts prior assumptions. As noted by Ludwig AI, this expression accurately conveys a sense of surprise and unexpected positive outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defying all expectations" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English that describes outcomes that surpass anticipated or predicted results. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, with a primary prevalence in news and media. While the phrase effectively highlights unexpected achievements, varying your word choice by incorporating alternatives such as "exceeding expectations" or "surpassing predictions", depending on the context, can enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeding expectations

Focuses on surpassing a set standard rather than acting against predictions.

surpassing all predictions

Emphasizes the act of outperforming forecasts or anticipations.

confounding expectations

Highlights the confusion or surprise caused by the unexpected outcome.

belies all predictions

Indicates that the actual result contradicts what was predicted.

flies in the face of expectations

More idiomatic, suggesting a direct contradiction of what was anticipated.

against all odds

Focuses on overcoming significant challenges or improbabilities.

contrary to what was expected

A more straightforward way of stating that something did not happen as anticipated.

in an unexpected turn of events

Highlights the sudden and surprising nature of the outcome.

defying conventional wisdom

Implies acting against established beliefs or norms.

outperforming forecasts

Centers on exceeding anticipated performance levels.

FAQs

How can I use "defying all expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "defying all expectations" to describe an event or outcome that was highly improbable or unexpected, often with a positive connotation. For instance, "The small startup, "defying all expectations", became a market leader in just two years".

What are some alternatives to "defying all expectations"?

Some alternatives include "exceeding expectations", "surpassing predictions", or ""against all odds depending on the context"".

Is it more appropriate to say "defying all expectations" or "exceeding expectations"?

"Defying all expectations" is best used when an outcome is not only better than expected but also goes against what was predicted or deemed likely. "Exceeding expectations" is more general and simply indicates surpassing a set standard.

What does it mean when something is described as "defying all expectations"?

It means that the event, performance, or result has gone against what was commonly believed or predicted. It suggests a significant level of surprise or improbability.