fragile obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fragile obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a commitment or duty that is easily broken or not very strong. Example: "In our agreement, we have a fragile obligation to support each other, but it often feels more like a suggestion than a requirement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is more about the profound and fragile obligations of loyalty and family that serve as a counterweight to unchecked avarice and blind materialism.

The New York Times

Situation Analysis of Children and Women in the Central African Republic, 2010  This situation analysis shows that, since 2001, the structure underpinning the Government's efforts to meet its obligations is fragile.

Unicef

Those include the emergence last week of debt problems in Dubai, investor fears about the ability of some euro-area governments — primarily Greece and Ireland — to service their obligations, and the fragile balance sheets of some large European banks.

The New York Times

True, that would hurt their export interests — but economics is about hard choices, and America is under no obligation to strangle its own fragile recovery to help other nations avoid making such choices.

The New York Times - Magazine

Where cities are economically self-sufficient, a smaller working population means a fragile base on which to balance hefty pension obligations.

The Economist

First, the draw-down in Iraq needs to be conditions-based and needs to recognize how fragile our gains there have been, and our moral obligation to Iraqis who have trusted us.

The New Yorker

Protecting our health and the fragile world we live in should be a moral obligation shared by all parties.

Huffington Post

And raising taxes to pay for a bailout — or allowing the company to raise electricity rates to meet financial obligations — would be a tough sell for the fragile government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

The New York Times

And secondly, financial institutions have an obligation to society beyond merely staying solvent and preserving a fragile and ill-suited system dominated by Western interests.

HuffPost

Osborne said in his autumn statement speech: "We will re-orientate that budget, so we both meet our moral obligation to the world's poorest and help those in the fragile and failing states on Europe's borders".

The Guardian

Autumn 2012 was punctuated by more signs that the eurozone economy was fragile, and arguments in Athens over whether Greece was meeting its bailout obligations.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fragile obligation", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the obligation susceptible to being broken or neglected. Providing specific details strengthens the impact of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "fragile obligation" when a more robust or dependable commitment is actually intended. The phrase emphasizes weakness, so it's unsuitable for describing duties that are meant to be strictly upheld.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fragile obligation" functions as a noun phrase, where "fragile" modifies the noun "obligation". According to Ludwig AI, it describes a duty or commitment that is easily broken or not very strong, as seen in the provided example.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

33%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fragile obligation" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a duty or commitment that is easily compromised. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While its occurrence is rare, as demonstrated by the limited examples, the phrase appears in reputable sources like news outlets and formal business documents. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly articulates the factors contributing to the obligation's fragility. Alternatives such as "tenuous duty" or "precarious commitment" offer nuanced substitutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tenuous duty

Emphasizes the weakness and instability of the duty.

precarious commitment

Highlights the risk and uncertainty associated with the commitment.

vulnerable commitment

Emphasizes the susceptibility of the commitment to external pressures.

shaky obligation

Implies the obligation is unstable and prone to collapse.

weak responsibility

Focuses on the lack of strength or enforceability of the responsibility.

brittle commitment

Suggests the commitment can easily break under pressure.

uncertain responsibility

Highlights the ambiguity and lack of clarity surrounding the responsibility.

delicate undertaking

Suggests the undertaking requires careful handling to avoid failure.

flimsy duty

Stresses the lack of substance and reliability of the duty.

insubstantial duty

Focuses on the lack of real impact or weight of the duty.

FAQs

How can I use "fragile obligation" in a sentence?

You can use "fragile obligation" to describe a duty or commitment that is easily broken or not very strong. For instance, "The peace treaty created a "fragile obligation" between the warring nations."

What are some alternatives to "fragile obligation"?

Some alternatives include "tenuous duty", "precarious commitment", or "weak responsibility". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "fragile obligation" a formal or informal phrase?

"Fragile obligation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is most effective in situations where you want to emphasize the vulnerability of a duty or commitment.

What makes an obligation "fragile"?

An obligation can be considered "fragile" if it is easily undermined by external factors, lacks strong enforcement mechanisms, or relies on the good faith of parties who may not be fully committed to it.