false pledges

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "false pledges" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe promises or commitments that are not genuine or are intended to mislead. Example: "The politician's campaign was filled with false pledges that ultimately disappointed voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

On the contrary, it has often been rewarded for false pledges.

The New York Times

Mr. Khan, who spent weeks negotiating with the Pashtun commanders about switching sides in the conflict, said he was tired of their false pledges.

The New York Times

At one point Mr. Jenkins wondered why Colonel North, while negotiating with Iranian officials, had made false pledges that would "obviously come back to haunt us very quickly" — among them that the United States would defend Iran in case of attack by the Soviet Union.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In diction reminiscent of the Book of Revelation and Dungeons & Dragons, he inveighed against the new "false" bridge and pledged to muster an army of "sword wielding human warriors and their wolf warrior brethren and sistren" to protect the old one when the demolition day arrived.

The New Yorker

Initially the SNP kept its own counsel, then attempted to brand the Scottish Labour pledge as false hope, saying the Scottish Parliament's new powers wouldn't allow it.

Independent

She accused him of being dishonest with his pledge to print money to spend on schools, hospitals and infrastructure which, she said, was a "false promise" on par with pledges by Nick Clegg to scrap tuition fees before the 2010 election.

Independent

With the prospect for an international climate agreement already hanging in the balance at the UN summit in Durban later this year, we can ill afford the UK tipping us into a political abyss of foot-dragging, false solutions, and fake financial pledges.

The Guardian

A confidential paper on migration presented to the summit by Luxembourg, which is currently in the EU's six-month rotating chair, revealed a long list of unredeemed pledges by national governments and false promises.

The Guardian

But one of its pundits, Jeffrey Toobin, insists the pledged delegate count is a false measure.

The New York Times

After initially claiming the rumors of such a deal were false, the administration has since described this pledge as a means of providing "training" assistance to Afghan forces.

Huffington Post

Like Hillary Clinton's broken promises to New York, these pledges all turned out to be false.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "false pledges", ensure you have evidence or context to support the claim that the pledges are indeed false. Avoid using it as a mere accusation without backing.

Common error

Avoid using "false pledges" repetitively in political commentary. Diversify your language by using synonyms like "empty promises" or "hollow commitments" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "false pledges" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "false" modifies the noun "pledges". It describes promises that are not genuine or are intended to deceive. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "false pledges" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes insincere or deceptive promises. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is most commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to express skepticism or criticism. While not extremely frequent, the phrase is well-understood and effectively conveys a lack of genuineness in commitments. Consider using synonyms like "empty promises" or "hollow commitments" to provide variety in your writing. When employing this phrase, ensure you have adequate evidence to support your assertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empty promises

Emphasizes the lack of substance or intention behind the pledges.

hollow commitments

Highlights the insincerity and lack of depth in the commitments.

deceptive assurances

Focuses on the misleading nature of the assurances given.

insincere guarantees

Underlines the lack of sincerity in the guarantees offered.

unfulfilled promises

Highlights the failure to deliver on the promises made.

broken promises

Focuses on promises that have been violated or disregarded.

illusory commitments

Suggests that the commitments are based on illusion or deception.

misleading undertakings

Emphasizes the deceptive nature of the undertakings.

sham agreements

Highlights the fraudulent or deceptive nature of the agreements.

worthless vows

Emphasizes the lack of value or substance in the vows made.

FAQs

What does "false pledges" mean?

"False pledges" refers to promises or commitments that are insincere, misleading, or not intended to be fulfilled. They often lack genuine intent and are used for deceptive purposes.

How can I use "false pledges" in a sentence?

You can use "false pledges" to describe situations where someone makes promises they don't intend to keep. For example: "The politician's campaign was built on a foundation of "empty promises" and "false pledges"."

Are there alternatives to using "false pledges"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "empty promises", "hollow commitments", or "deceptive assurances".

What's the difference between "false pledges" and "broken promises"?

"False pledges" implies a lack of intent to fulfill the promise from the beginning, while "broken promises" suggests that there was an initial intention to fulfill the promise, but circumstances or a change of heart led to its violation.