frail confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frail confidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of confidence that is weak or easily shaken, often in contexts discussing self-esteem or belief in one's abilities. Example: "After the criticism, she was left with a frail confidence that made it difficult for her to speak up in meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

That could swiftly undermine consumers' frail confidence.

The New York Times

It was an aberration of indecision and frail confidence, a dreadful effort that would have provided his team with a deserved lead.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Confidence is frail, earnings will remain under pressure and consumers will keep a tight hold on the purse strings while the recession plays out.

Forbes

Perhaps as his body grew frail, he lost his unremitting confidence in his own righteousness.

Huffington Post

An increase in BMI contributed significantly to the identification of frail (Odds Ratio: 4.4; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.4, 13.6) older adults.

BMC Geriatrics

The predictive validity of these scales for mortality varied: for instance, hazard ratios/odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for mortality risk for frail relative to non-frail people ranged from 1.21 (0.78; 1.87) to 6.03 (3.00; 12.08) for the Phenotype of Frailty and 1.57 (1.41; 1.74) to 10.53 (7.06; 15.70) for the Frailty Index.

BMC Geriatrics

Bivariate multinomial logistic regression models were completed to calculate odds ratios and 95%% confidence intervals to report the odds of frailty (pre-frail or frail compared to non-frail), by individual characteristics.

BMC Geriatrics

Relative to the non-frail class, the age-adjusted Odds Ratio (with 95% Confidence Interval) for mortality at Wave 2 was 2.1 (1.4 - 3.0) in the pre-frail and 4.8 (3.1 - 7.4) in the frail.

BMC Geriatrics

"Until we see a decisive shift in confidence, the business climate looks set to remain frail," warned Markit's Jack Kennedy.

The Guardian - Business

The chance of being frail or pre-frail increased almost twofold (odds ratio: 1.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.02 3.57) in cases where the participant had four or five CVD risk factors.

Clinical interventions in aging

Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate age-adjusted odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to categories of frailty with 'not frail' as the reference group.

Heart

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frail confidence" to describe a situation where someone's belief in themselves or something is easily undermined. Be mindful of the context to ensure it accurately reflects the vulnerability you intend to convey.

Common error

While "frail" effectively conveys weakness, be aware that it can sometimes sound overly emotive or informal, especially in professional settings. Consider alternatives like "limited confidence" or "uncertainty" if a more neutral tone is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frail confidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "frail" modifies the noun "confidence". It describes a specific quality or state of confidence, indicating that it is weak, easily damaged, or not robust. Ludwig's examples show this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frail confidence" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a state of weak or easily shaken confidence. Though not extremely common, as noted by Ludwig, its use is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news and media when conveying vulnerability. Alternative phrases like "fragile confidence" or "weak confidence" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. When using "frail confidence", ensure the context aligns with the sense of vulnerability you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fragile confidence

Replaces "frail" with "fragile", emphasizing the delicate and easily broken nature of the confidence.

Weak confidence

Uses "weak" instead of "frail", highlighting the lack of strength in the confidence.

Shaky confidence

Emphasizes the instability and wavering nature of the confidence.

Faltering confidence

Highlights the diminishing or declining state of the confidence.

Brittle confidence

Similar to "fragile", but suggests a more rigid and easily snapped quality of confidence.

Uncertain confidence

Focuses on the doubt and lack of conviction associated with the confidence.

Tenuous confidence

Highlights the slight or thin basis on which the confidence rests.

Vulnerable confidence

Emphasizes the susceptibility of the confidence to being damaged or undermined.

Precarious confidence

Suggests the unstable and risky nature of the confidence.

Diminished confidence

Implies a reduction in the level or intensity of confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "frail confidence" in a sentence?

You can use "frail confidence" to describe a state where someone's belief in themselves or something is weak and easily shaken. For example: "After repeated setbacks, she developed a "frail confidence" in her abilities".

What are some alternatives to "frail confidence"?

Alternatives include "fragile confidence", "weak confidence", or "shaky confidence". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "frail confidence" a commonly used phrase?

While grammatically correct, "frail confidence" is not as common as some of its alternatives like "fragile confidence". Its use depends on context and desired emphasis.

What is the difference between "frail confidence" and "fragile confidence"?

Both phrases suggest a weak state of confidence, but "frail" can also imply a sense of vulnerability or delicate health, while "fragile confidence" primarily emphasizes ease of breakage. The choice depends on the specific imagery you want to evoke.