go against expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "go against expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or outcome that is surprising or contrary to what was anticipated. Example: "The movie was expected to be a blockbuster, but it went against expectations and received poor reviews."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, for those who do, the BBC-ITV rivalry is very similar to the Conservative-Labour one – large areas of overlap, but with intriguing differences that sometimes go against expectation.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Only France and South Korea went against expectations, increasing their spending.

The New York Times

This is, undoubtedly, quite a shocking story; for someone healthy and active to purposefully cut short their life goes against expectations.

The Guardian - Opinion

One other, encouraging way that the Kinsey report went against expectations was by showing that women became more sexually satisfied as they got older (the researchers guessed that this might be a result of children growing up relieving stress on mothers, while reduced anxiety about fertility made sex more enjoyable for women).

The Guardian - Opinion

Just about everything went against expectation.

The New York Times

Was this finale a deliberate attempt to go against those expectations?

The New York Times

"It was definitely a situation where things go against your expectations.

Forbes

Women are expected to be kind, nurturing, and compassionate, so when they assert themselves, they go against our expectations and are often liked less.

Huffington Post

Aware of the sensitive political climate of the Cold War, and not wishing to "perpetuate the idea that Russia was the enemy with a whole generation of children watching", Gerry Anderson decided to go against viewers' expectations by casting the Hood as Oriental and placing his temple hideaway in Malaysia.

Wikipedia

I spoke of how I slowly but surely rebuilt my life and found love and happiness again with my husband Ray and our two daughters, conveying that while life will go against our expectations and sometimes devastate us, time, change, hope and faith can carry us through to a life that is beautiful again.

Huffington Post

Another obstacle is the fact that some NGOs that raise funds from the public are afraid to go against the expectations of the donors if the money is reallocated for research, and particularly for policy research in Canada: " Donors do not want to hear that NGOs are doing research as they are implementation organizations" (Interview with C. MacDonald, World Vision Canada).

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go against expectations" to create emphasis when you want to highlight a surprising or unexpected outcome. It’s more impactful than simply stating something was different.

Common error

Avoid using "go against expectations" when a simple difference is meant. Ensure the situation truly contradicts what was predicted, rather than just being a variation or alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go against expectations" functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that it describes an action that contradicts or opposes what is anticipated. The phrase indicates a deviation from a predicted or typical outcome.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go against expectations" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations where the outcome is contrary to what was anticipated. Despite the limited examples available, Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. Related phrases include "defy expectations" and "contradict expectations". When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a contradiction rather than a mere difference. This phrase is versatile and can add emphasis to writing when highlighting unexpected results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defy expectations

Focuses on the act of resisting or opposing what is expected.

contradict expectations

Emphasizes a direct opposition to what was anticipated.

buck the trend

Highlights resisting a prevailing pattern or direction.

fly in the face of expectations

Suggests a bold and obvious contradiction of what is anticipated.

run counter to expectations

Indicates a movement in the opposite direction of what is predicted.

deviate from expectations

Focuses on straying from the anticipated path or outcome.

prove the exception

Highlights being an atypical case that does not conform to the general rule or expectation.

differ from expectations

Simply indicates a divergence or dissimilarity from what was anticipated.

reverse expectations

Indicates a complete turnaround from what was predicted or believed.

belie expectations

Emphasizes that the reality is different from what expectations suggest.

FAQs

How can I use "go against expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "go against expectations" to describe situations where the outcome is the opposite of what was anticipated. For example, "The movie was expected to be a flop, but it "defied expectations" and became a box office hit."

What are some alternatives to "go against expectations"?

Alternatives include "defy expectations", "contradict expectations", or "buck the trend". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "go against expectations" or "goes against expectations"?

"Go against expectations" is typically used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form. "Goes against expectations" is used with singular subjects in the present tense. For example, "His decision goes against expectations."

What's the difference between "go against expectations" and "not meet expectations"?

"Go against expectations" implies a direct contradiction or opposite outcome, while "not meet expectations" simply means the outcome fell short of what was anticipated. The first is more emphatic and indicates a surprising reversal.