forestall a repeat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forestall a repeat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent something from happening again, particularly in contexts involving mistakes or undesirable events. Example: "To ensure we don't face the same issues as last year, we need to implement new strategies to forestall a repeat of the problems we encountered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In an attempt to forestall a repeat of the Southern Cross fiasco, the government will now force care homes to prove they are financially stable.

Independent

The remarks to a bankers' group in San Antonio appeared to be the latest efforts by federal regulators to forestall a repeat of the savings and loan crisis of the late 1980's and early 1990's.

The New York Times

Outside governments are eager to forestall a repeat of last year's chaos, and two large-scale multinational efforts now under way, led by France and shepherded by the United Nations and the European Union, would effectively make this impoverished West African nation a ward of the international community.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The election of Abraham Lincoln, who favored "cutting up the wild lands into parcels so that every poor man may have a home," and the departure of Southern senators and representatives after the South's secession, forestalled a repeat of Buchanan's action.

The New York Times

In December 1915, there were explicit orders by the Allied commanders to forestall any repeat of the previous Christmas truce.

Wikipedia

First, could it hope to forestall a crisis?

The Economist

Policymakers are now scrambling to forestall a crunch.

The Economist

And the U.N.-sanctioned NATO intervention did forestall a massacre.

The New York Times

And what could the community do to forestall a reoccurrence?

The New Yorker

But they could not forestall a bill on drug tests for unemployment benefits.

The New York Times

The rescue was portrayed as a move to forestall a banking crisis.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forestall a repeat" when you want to emphasize proactive measures taken to prevent a recurrence of an undesirable event, particularly in formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "forestall a repeat" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "avoid it happening again" or "prevent a recurrence" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forestall a repeat" functions as a verb phrase that typically introduces a clause expressing an intention or action aimed at preventing the recurrence of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forestall a repeat" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe actions taken to prevent the recurrence of an event, typically something undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While the phrase is more formal and appears mainly in news and media contexts, simpler alternatives are preferable for informal situations. The phrase emphasizes proactive steps to avoid past issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forestall a repetition

Replaces "repeat" with its synonym "repetition", keeping the meaning largely the same.

avert a repeat

Implies a successful deflection of a recurrence.

forestall a reoccurrence

Synonymous, substituting "reoccurrence" for "repeat".

stop a repeat

Uses a simpler verb to indicate preventing a recurrence.

avoid a repeat

Focuses on circumventing a recurrence.

discourage a repeat

Uses a different verb to convey the act of preventing recurrence through discouragement.

deter a repeat

Emphasizes the act of preventing a recurrence through deterrence.

thwart a repeat

Suggests actively opposing and preventing a recurrence.

anticipate a repeat

Shifts the focus to expecting and preparing for a recurrence.

foresee a repeat

Focuses on the act of predicting a future recurrence.

FAQs

What does "forestall a repeat" mean?

The phrase "forestall a repeat" means to prevent something from happening again by taking action in advance. It suggests a proactive effort to avoid a recurrence of an event or situation.

How can I use "forestall a repeat" in a sentence?

You can use "forestall a repeat" in a sentence like this: "To ensure we don't face the same issues, we need to implement new strategies to "forestall a repeat" of the problems we encountered."

What are some alternatives to "forestall a repeat"?

You can use alternatives like "prevent a recurrence", "avoid a repetition", or "deter a repeat" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "forestall a repeat" formal or informal?

"Forestall a repeat" is generally considered a more formal phrase. In informal contexts, you might prefer simpler alternatives like "stop it from happening again".