elude us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elude us" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to grasp, understand, or achieve. Example: "Despite our best efforts, the solution to the problem continues to elude us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But the reasons elude us.

The New York Times

Even the most basic facts elude us.

The New York Times - Arts

Thus far, salvation has managed to elude us.

The New York Times

The highest flights of patriotic enthusiasm tend to elude us.

The New Yorker

They cannot elude us, nor escape the justice they deserve.

The New York Times

Otherwise, significant reform will continue to elude us.

The New York Times

They largely elude us, whales, thus their deep allure.

The New York Times - Magazine

But we believe that future office will elude us until we establish a distinctive radical reputation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then, there is the often heard complaint that the whole truth will always elude us.

The New Yorker

Let us be grateful that the elixir continues to elude us — and toast instead our finitude.

The New York Times

Criticism of Israeli policies often serves to obscure this fact, and peace continues to elude us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elude us" to describe concepts, solutions, or opportunities that are difficult to find or understand. It often implies a persistent or ongoing search.

Common error

Avoid using "elude us" when you simply mean 'miss'. "Elude" suggests a more active avoidance or difficulty in grasping something, not just a failure to notice it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elude us" functions as a verb phrase, where 'elude' is the verb and 'us' is the object. It typically describes a situation where something, often a solution, understanding, or desired outcome, remains out of reach or difficult to attain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elude us" is a versatile expression used to describe the state of something being difficult to grasp or attain. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Analysis of its usage reveals that it most frequently appears in News & Media, followed by Science and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, use "elude us" to express an ongoing challenge in understanding or achieving something. If you're looking for alternatives, consider "escape us" or "evade us" for similar meanings, but be mindful of the specific nuances they carry. Overall, "elude us" is a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit for expressing a state of unattainability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

escape us

Focuses on the idea of something actively avoiding or slipping away from our grasp.

evade us

Emphasizes skillful avoidance, often implying intentional maneuvering to remain undetected.

remain unattainable for us

Highlights the continuing impossibility of reaching a goal or understanding.

be beyond our grasp

Suggests that something is conceptually or practically out of reach.

prove elusive to us

Emphasizes the difficulty in capturing or defining something due to its subtle or evasive nature.

defy our understanding

Highlights a resistance to comprehension, suggesting complexity or contradiction.

slip through our fingers

Conveys a sense of loss, suggesting something was nearly obtained but then lost.

be out of our reach

Similar to "beyond our grasp", this indicates something is inaccessible or unattainable.

fail to be comprehended by us

Focuses on a lack of understanding, often due to complexity or obscurity.

not be understood by us

A more direct and simple way of saying something is not comprehensible.

FAQs

How can I use "elude us" in a sentence?

The phrase "elude us" is used to describe something that is difficult to grasp, understand, or achieve. For example, "Despite our best efforts, the solution continues to "elude us"".

What can I say instead of "elude us"?

You can use alternatives like "escape us", "evade us", or "remain unattainable for us" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "elude us" or "allude us"?

The correct phrase is "elude us". "Elude" means to evade or escape, while "allude" means to hint at or refer to indirectly. Therefore, ""elude us"" is used when something is difficult to grasp or avoid, while "allude to" is used when making an indirect reference.

What's the difference between "elude us" and "miss us"?

"Elude us" implies an active or persistent difficulty in understanding or attaining something, suggesting it's evasive. "Miss us" simply means to fail to notice or encounter something. If something ""elude us"", it is actively difficult to grasp; if we "miss" something, we simply failed to notice it.