for fear of disappointing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for fear of disappointing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a concern about causing disappointment to someone else, often as a reason for a particular action or decision. Example: "She decided to stay silent for fear of disappointing her friends with her opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Many of the footballers who have come forward speak of how impossible it was to tell of what Bennell was doing to them for fear of disappointing their parents.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thus, it might be the case that people do not want to disclose their minority views for fear of disappointing their friends, getting into fruitless arguments, or losing them entirely.

The Guardian - Tech

Oftentimes, people say "yes" for fear of disappointing or hurting someone else... Sound familiar?

Forbes

In cases like our participant who liked his doctor and wished to stop using drugs to 'please his doctor' and receive his medication, such a policy could dissuade patients from seeking care during relapse, for fear of disappointing their doctor.

Health & Justice

In the months and years afterwards, they're scared to talk about the other parent for fear of disappointing you.

Huffington Post

The pull of both is equally strong and for this reason, but you're afraid to move forward for fear of disappointing your parents.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

There is of course the other fear of what people will think, the "why is she doing X when she went to school for Y?" fear--and the fear of disappointing all the people whom you worked with during graduate school even if they may not have your best interests at heart.

Science Magazine

For students, cheating is often a result of fear — fear of not being competitive, fear of disappointing parents, fear of looking like an underachiever to peers, fear of not getting into the right school or college.

Los Angeles Times

The fear of disappointing her is a trap that serves").

The New Yorker

Tamara Rojo There's a fear of disappointing people, a fear of not being good enough.

The Guardian

I speak of my worry over the loss, and my fear of disappointing him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for fear of disappointing" when you want to clearly express that the primary motivation behind an action is to avoid causing disappointment to someone. For greater impact, ensure the potential disappointment is significant in the given context.

Common error

Avoid using "for fear of disappointing" when the concern is more about general failure or other negative consequences unrelated to someone else's disappointment. The phrase is specifically tied to the act of disappointing another party.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for fear of disappointing" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, explaining the reason or motivation behind an action. As supported by Ludwig AI, it indicates that the action is taken to prevent causing disappointment to someone. This aligns with the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for fear of disappointing" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that indicates the motivation behind an action is to avoid causing disappointment to someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, though more common in news and media and science writing. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intention of avoiding disappointing a specific person or group. Alternative phrases like "to avoid disappointing" or "out of concern for disappointing" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to avoid disappointing

This alternative is more concise and directly states the intention to prevent disappointment.

to prevent disappointing

This is a more direct and concise alternative that still conveys the same meaning.

out of concern for disappointing

This emphasizes the concern as the primary motivator.

to not disappoint

Simplified and more direct phrasing.

lest they be disappointed

This is a more formal and slightly archaic way of expressing the same idea.

to keep from disappointing

Focuses on actively preventing disappointment.

to evade disappointing

Emphasizes avoiding the act of disappointing someone.

so as not to disappoint

Highlights the intention to avoid disappointment as a goal.

to sidestep disappointing

Suggests a maneuver to avoid disappointing someone.

in order to not disappoint

Similar to "so as not to disappoint" but slightly more direct.

FAQs

How can I use "for fear of disappointing" in a sentence?

Use "for fear of disappointing" to show that someone is doing something to avoid causing disappointment to another person. Example: "She agreed to help, "for fear of disappointing" her friend."

What are some alternatives to "for fear of disappointing"?

Some alternatives include "to avoid disappointing", "out of concern for disappointing", or "so as not to disappoint", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "for fear of disappointing" or "to avoid disappointment"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "for fear of disappointing" emphasizes the fear of letting someone down specifically, while "to avoid disappointment" is more general.

What's the difference between "for fear of disappointing" and "for fear of failure"?

"For fear of disappointing" relates to the specific concern of letting someone down. "For fear of failure", on the other hand, relates to a general concern about not succeeding, regardless of others' expectations.