draw attack from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "draw attack from" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey the idea of provoking or eliciting an attack, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The strategy was to draw an attack from the enemy, allowing us to counter effectively."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science & Research

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In his weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday, the president predicted that his agenda would draw attack from "special interests and lobbyists" on several fronts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Still, the numbers were enough to draw attacks from Republicans.

The New York Times

It was also an attempt to render the program less visible and, thus, less likely to draw attacks from opponents of affirmative action.

Science Magazine

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, whose sometimes ambiguous statements on the war have drawn attack from other Democrats, invoked Mr. Lieberman in opposing the notion of increasing troop strength.

The New York Times

Already, Mr. Ryan's proposals to change Medicare had drawn attacks from President Obama and his Democratic allies.

The New York Times

The proposal also drew attacks from environmental groups over concerns about traffic and air-and-water pollution near the Neversink River.

The New York Times

Mr. Bush's tax and spending framework, his first detailed statement of priorities, immediately drew attacks from Democrats.

The New York Times

The memos — providing an unusual inside glimpse of the strategic thinking of the country's most prominent group opposing same-sex marriage — quickly drew attacks from gay rights and civil rights organizations.

The New York Times

This is worth emphasizing because Moore's last documentary, Sicko – which was quite careful with the facts – drew attacks from CNN and a smear campaign from the insurance industry.

The Guardian - Opinion

A claim on the poster that the coalition had "halved the deficit" drew attacks from Labour, and critics said it was only true if measured as a proportion of national income.

The Guardian

He stopped in a pediatric intensive care ward, drawing attacks from Democrats who said his administration had sought to cut financing for children's hospitals, and attended a fund-raiser that took in $1.7 million for the Republican party.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs like "provoke", "elicit", or "invite" to more clearly convey the intended meaning of causing or attracting an attack. For example, instead of saying "the policy may "draw attack from" critics", use "the policy may provoke attack from critics".

Common error

Avoid using "draw" in contexts where a more direct verb like "attract", "invite", or "provoke" is more appropriate. "Draw" can sometimes imply unintentionality, whereas these alternatives highlight a more direct cause-and-effect relationship. Ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draw attack from" functions as a verb phrase, aiming to express that something is causing or inviting an attack. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not standard English, suggesting the use of stronger verbs for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science & Research

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "draw attack from" is not considered standard English, as noted by Ludwig AI. While it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media, it is less frequent and grammatically weaker than alternatives like "provoke an attack from" or "invite attack from". When writing, it's advisable to opt for stronger, more direct verbs to clearly convey the intended meaning of causing or attracting criticism. Overall, while understandable, this phrase should be used cautiously to ensure clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invite attack from

Replaces "draw" with "invite", suggesting a more intentional act of provoking an attack.

provoke an attack from

Substitutes "draw" with "provoke", indicating a more direct and intentional instigation of an attack.

elicit an attack from

Replaces "draw" with "elicit", implying that the attack is a natural response to something.

attract attack from

Uses "attract" instead of "draw", suggesting the subject is a magnet for attacks.

bring on an attack from

Replaces "draw" with "bring on", indicating the subject caused the attack.

incite an attack from

Suggests a more active role in causing the attack, with "incite" replacing "draw".

trigger an attack from

Implies that something acted as a trigger to cause the attack, swapping "draw" with "trigger".

prompt an attack from

Replaces "draw" with "prompt", which indicates that an action initiated the attack.

generate attack from

Uses generate instead of draw, which indicates that an action is responsible for the attack.

court attack from

Substitutes "draw" with "court", which indicates actively seeking an attack.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "draw attack from"?

You can use phrases like "invite attack from", "provoke an attack from", or "elicit an attack from" depending on the context.

Is "draw attack from" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "draw attack from" is not the most common or grammatically sound way to express the idea of provoking an attack. Stronger verbs are typically preferred.

How can I use "invite attack from" instead of "draw attack from"?

Instead of saying "the statement might "draw attack from" opponents", you could say "the statement might invite attack from opponents", implying it's likely to cause a critical response.

What's the difference between "draw attack from" and "provoke an attack from"?

"Draw attack from" implies a weaker causal link than "provoke an attack from". Provoke suggests a more direct and intentional instigation of the attack.