half-hearted attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"half-hearted attempt" is a correct and common phrase in written English.
It is used to describe an effort or action that lacks enthusiasm or commitment. Example: After years of procrastination, Jane finally made a half-hearted attempt to clean her messy room. Unfortunately, she quickly lost interest and gave up after only a few minutes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But this was, by Arum's standards, a half-hearted attempt.

The New Yorker

She made a half-hearted attempt to pull him away.

The Guardian - Travel

But then why such a feeble, half-hearted attempt?

The Guardian - Opinion

It is simply a very bad, half-hearted attempt at a show.

The New York Times

Even Greece's half-hearted attempt to make new friends showed a certain naivety.

Independent

I love Apple!" — only made her half-hearted attempt to plunge the shiv in more vexing.

The Washington Post

Many of the podcasts begin with an apology from Mr. Maron — or at least a half-hearted attempt at one.

The New York Times - Arts

The sun made a half-hearted attempt to appear around noon, then gave up and went back to bed.

The New York Times

He made a half-hearted attempt to look for sassafras, and then gratefully accepted a ride back to the dock.

The New York Times - Books

In 1901, very tired of London" he made a half-hearted attempt at suicide, the first of several.

The Guardian - Books

Their current outing, the £99 streaming box Apple TV, has been seen by many as only a half-hearted attempt to move into the market.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "half-hearted attempt" to convey a sense of insincerity or lack of commitment in an action. It's effective when you want to subtly criticize or highlight the inadequacy of an effort.

Common error

Avoid using "half-hearted attempt" when the effort was genuinely earnest, even if unsuccessful. The phrase implies a lack of enthusiasm, not just a failure to achieve the desired outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half-hearted attempt" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "attempt". It characterizes the nature of the attempt, indicating a lack of enthusiasm or commitment. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples illustrating its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half-hearted attempt" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe actions lacking enthusiasm or commitment. Ludwig AI's analysis reveals its frequent use in News & Media, serving to express criticism or disappointment. While generally neutral in register, it may be less suitable for highly formal contexts. For more formal situations, consider using synonyms like "perfunctory effort" or "lackluster endeavor". Understanding the nuances of this phrase enables more effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lukewarm effort

Replaces "attempt" with "effort" and "half-hearted" with "lukewarm", emphasizing the lack of enthusiasm.

feeble try

Substitutes "attempt" with "try" and "half-hearted" with "feeble", indicating weakness and ineffectiveness.

perfunctory effort

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective, "perfunctory", meaning carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

lackluster endeavor

Uses "lackluster" to describe the "endeavor", highlighting its uninspired nature.

unenthusiastic undertaking

Replaces "attempt" with the more formal "undertaking" and uses "unenthusiastic" instead of "half-hearted".

tepid action

Emphasizes the lack of warmth or passion with "tepid", applied to the general term "action".

half-baked scheme

Changes "attempt" to "scheme", implying a poorly conceived or unrealistic plan.

desultory effort

Replaces the original phrase with a single word adjective, “desultory,” indicating lack of a plan or enthusiasm.

nominal endeavor

Replaces "attempt" with "endeavor" and uses "nominal" to convey that the effort was merely symbolic or minimal.

token gesture

Shifts the meaning slightly to focus on the insincerity of the action, rather than just the lack of effort.

FAQs

How can I use "half-hearted attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "half-hearted attempt" to describe an action that lacks enthusiasm or commitment. For instance, "He made a "half-hearted attempt" to clean his room, but quickly gave up".

What's a more formal way to say "half-hearted attempt"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "perfunctory effort" or "lackluster endeavor", which convey a similar meaning but with a more sophisticated vocabulary.

Which is correct: "half-hearted attempt" or "half-hearted intention"?

"Half-hearted attempt" is generally used to describe an action, whereas "half-hearted intention" describes a feeling or plan. The choice depends on whether you're referring to an action or a state of mind.

What's the difference between a ""half-hearted attempt"" and a "genuine effort"?

A ""half-hearted attempt"" suggests a lack of enthusiasm or commitment, indicating that the person did not put their full energy into the action. In contrast, a "genuine effort" implies a sincere and dedicated attempt, regardless of the outcome.