foresee a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "foresee a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when predicting or anticipating that something will be delayed in the future. Example: "Given the current weather conditions, we foresee a delay in the delivery of the packages."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

American officials have said that, despite the current political crisis, they do not foresee any delay in this August's withdrawal of the main body of American combat troops.

The New York Times

But some foresee a difficulty.

The Economist

Does Hart foresee a similar future?

The Guardian - Film

"I cannot foresee a good outcome.

The New York Times

"I can't foresee a time where they would".

The New York Times - Sports

Many businessmen foresee a booming market in manufactured organisms.

The New Yorker

But economists foresee a strong upturn, especially in manufacturing.

The Economist

Professor Gordon doesn't foresee a quick turnaround.

The New York Times

Fehr said he did not foresee a work stoppage.

The New York Times - Sports

Do you foresee a PIIGS crisis in the eurozone?

The New Yorker

How could he foresee a housing collapse this huge?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foresee a delay", specify the reason or cause if possible. For example, "Due to the impending storm, we foresee a delay in shipments."

Common error

While "foresee" is a valid word, it can sound overly formal in everyday conversation. In less formal settings, consider using more common alternatives like "expect a delay" or "think there will be a delay."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foresee a delay" primarily functions as a verb phrase expressing anticipation or prediction of a future postponement. While Ludwig identifies instances of the word foresee, there are no exact matches for the full phrase, which affects the analysis.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foresee a delay" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the anticipation of a future postponement. As per Ludwig, the phrase itself doesn't appear as a complete match in the provided examples, but the individual word "foresee" has several occurrences. While considered acceptable, the formality of "foresee" may make it more suitable for professional, business, or news contexts than casual conversation. Alternative phrases include "anticipate a delay" or "expect a delay".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipate a hold-up

Replaces "foresee" with "anticipate" and "delay" with a synonym "hold-up", slightly changing the tone.

expect a postponement

Substitutes "foresee" with "expect" and "delay" with "postponement", implying a formal rescheduling.

predict a setback

Uses "predict" instead of "foresee" and "setback" in place of "delay", suggesting a more general impediment.

envisage a slowing

Replaces "foresee" with "envisage" and "delay" with "slowing", indicating a reduction in speed or progress.

foretell a hindrance

Substitutes "foresee" with "foretell" and "delay" with "hindrance", adding a slightly archaic or formal tone.

project a stall

Uses "project" instead of "foresee" and "stall" in place of "delay", implying a sudden stop or pause.

assume a deferment

Replaces "foresee" with "assume" and "delay" with "deferment", suggesting a more passive acceptance of the postponement.

infer a stoppage

Substitutes "foresee" with "infer" and "delay" with "stoppage", implying a conclusion based on evidence.

surmise a wait

Uses "surmise" instead of "foresee" and "wait" in place of "delay", indicating a guess or assumption about the delay.

divine a lag

Replaces "foresee" with "divine" and "delay" with "lag", adding a sense of mysterious prediction and technical slowness.

FAQs

What does "foresee a delay" mean?

The phrase "foresee a delay" means to predict or anticipate that something will be postponed or slowed down.

How can I use "foresee a delay" in a sentence?

You can use it to express your expectation that something will be delayed. For example: "Given the current circumstances, we "foresee a delay" in the project's completion."

What can I say instead of "foresee a delay"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipate a delay", "expect a delay", or "predict a delay" depending on the context.

Is "foresee a delay" formal or informal?

"Foresee a delay" is generally considered more formal. In informal contexts, using "expect a delay" might be more appropriate.