foregone opportunities

USAGE SUMMARY

'foregone opportunities' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to opportunities that were missed or not taken advantage of in the past. For example, "By not investing in the stock market, my parents have had to accept many foregone opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Democrats continue to press the case that Mr. Bush is responsible for the deterioration of the government's fiscal condition because of his tax cut and that voters will pay the price not just in deficits but also in foregone opportunities to deal with problems like the long-term solvency of Social Security and the growing burden of prescription drug costs for the elderly.

The New York Times

An alternative perspective — that Xerox managers did not "fumble" these technologies but consciously ushered them out the door — can be found in H. Chesbrough, "Graceful Exits and Foregone Opportunities: Xerox's Management of Its Technology Spinoff Companies, Business History Revieww 76 (winter 2002): 803 838.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Another is that while there may be benefits to the tacit acceptance of undocumented immigration the United States acquires an immigrant labour force without making any accommodations for the population there are also foregone opportunities.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The most significant measure of this economic cost can be expressed in terms of the foregone opportunity to raise the level of per capita income.

Britannica

If we assume that the residents of Greenwich Village benefit from keeping things the way they are, then we have a situation where a relatively small group of well off individuals enjoy their little neighbourhood while the many others who must live in cheaper cities bear the cost of foregone opportunity.

The Economist

Low Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) constitutes a foregone opportunity at both the macro and at the micro levels, potentially increasing the vulnerability of households and lowering the long-run development perspectives of a country.

University of Chicago

At many companies, sales generation activities have become disconnected from the operational activities required to fulfill that demand — resulting in conflicting objectives and foregone business opportunities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In contrast, the Israeli economy would lose some $250 billion in foregone economic opportunities in a return to violence, and the Palestinians would see their per-capita gross domestic product fall by as much as 46 percent, the report said.

Independent

The costs to society in terms of costs of care, productivity cost and deadweight loss (foregone productive opportunities to society associated with higher taxes due to illness) was $69 billion in 2012 [ 1].

BMC Psychiatry

Research from professional services firm Grant Thornton suggests that, "based on return on assets, companies with diverse executive teams outperform by a significant margin in the three markets explored". It puts profit foregone - or "opportunity cost" by the companies with male-only boards at $655 billion across the three economies.

Forbes

We estimate the effect of interest on the subsample of caregivers because they constitute a group of utmost relevance, as these are the women who face potential opportunity costs in terms of foregone labour market opportunities associated to providing care.

SERIEs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foregone opportunities" when you want to emphasize the cost or consequence of not pursuing certain possibilities, especially in economic or strategic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "foregone opportunities" when discussing potential future prospects. This phrase refers specifically to chances that have already passed and are no longer available.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foregone opportunities" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes opportunities that were available but not utilized. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from economic analysis to personal development.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foregone opportunities" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe missed or unutilized chances, often carrying implications of cost or regret. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various authoritative sources, including news, academic, and scientific publications. When writing, ensure you're referring to past opportunities rather than future prospects. Consider alternatives like "missed chances" or "lost possibilities" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

missed chances

This alternative focuses on the aspect of missing out on potential benefits.

lost possibilities

This alternative highlights the idea that the opportunities are no longer available.

untapped potential

This alternative emphasizes the unutilized value that the opportunities held.

squandered prospects

This alternative implies that the opportunities were wasted or carelessly lost.

neglected avenues

This alternative suggests that the opportunities were ignored or not given enough attention.

passed up openings

This alternative focuses on the action of choosing not to take advantage of the opportunities.

abandoned possibilities

This alternative implies that the opportunities were intentionally left behind.

forfeited advantages

This alternative suggests a loss of benefits or gains that could have been realized.

sacrificed prospects

This alternative implies that the opportunities were given up for something else.

relinquished chances

This alternative highlights the voluntary act of giving up the opportunities.

FAQs

What does "foregone opportunities" mean?

The phrase "foregone opportunities" refers to chances or possibilities that were missed or not taken advantage of. It often implies a cost or consequence associated with not pursuing those opportunities.

How can I use "foregone opportunities" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company's failure to invest in research and development led to many "foregone opportunities" for innovation and growth."

What's a synonym for "foregone opportunities"?

Alternatives include "missed chances", "lost possibilities", or "untapped potential", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "foregone opportunities" formal or informal language?

"Foregone opportunities" is considered neutral to formal language, suitable for academic, business, and news contexts. It is less common in casual conversation.