hard to decline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to decline" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an offer, invitation, or request that is difficult to refuse or say no to. Example: "The job offer was so appealing that it was hard to decline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In fact, while he has declined to participate in public speculation regarding his becoming chairman of the bedraggled Securities and Exchange Commission, a presidential request would be hard to decline.

The New York Times

Some mothers' phrasing suggested that although they had been told research participation was optional; in practice the benefits of research participation were perceived to be so great that it would be hard to decline the study, a feature also reported in other African contexts [ 7, 37, 38].

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With the NPPA process now reported in our findings as enabling the capturing of patients with cancer subtype information, cancer medicine outcomes may become easier to measure and, if positive, make it harder to decline funding treatments.

BMJ Open

From a certain perspective, it is hard to lament declining popular support for institutions which do markedly little to represent popular interests.

The Guardian - Opinion

Worse, new discoveries tend to be smaller than in the past and to run dry faster.So oil firms must work doubly hard to replace declining fields and to increase output.

The Economist

It took long, hard years for things to decline, and it's taken long years to rebuild".

The New York Times

Asked on Thursday where mortgage investments were headed, Mr. Thain was reluctant to go beyond the obvious: it will be hard for these investments to decline again as much as they did in the past six months.

The New York Times

The participants also believed that it was harder for women these days to decline routine examinations as they have become the norm in pregnancy management.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

In a concerted effort facilitated by conservative interest groups — such as Generation Opportunity, funded by the Koch brothers — Republican-led states have undermined the law in ways that range from making it harder to enroll to declining to enforce rules when insurance companies break them.

The New Yorker

It is hard to predict that decline, however.

The New York Times

It's not hard to understand the decline in public support for the death penalty.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to decline" when emphasizing the compelling nature of an offer or the social pressure to accept, making it difficult to refuse without negative consequences or missed opportunities.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to decline" when a simple 'no' would suffice. This phrase is best reserved for situations where there's a significant reason why declining is genuinely difficult, not just a matter of personal taste.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to decline" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the degree of difficulty associated with refusing something. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing job offers or requests that are tempting or socially pressuring. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to decline" is a versatile phrase used to describe scenarios where refusing something is genuinely challenging due to its attractiveness, social implications, or potential consequences. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. Ludwig examples illustrate its presence in both news and academic articles. Synonyms like "difficult to refuse" or "tough to turn down" can be used depending on the context. When using "hard to decline", reserve it for situations where the difficulty stems from more than just personal preference. This phrase appears most often in news and media, and scientific content, demonstrating its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to refuse

Emphasizes the challenge in rejecting something due to its appeal or necessity.

tough to turn down

Highlights the difficulty in rejecting an offer or invitation, suggesting it's highly attractive.

hard to say no to

Expresses the personal difficulty in rejecting a request or offer.

almost impossible to reject

Indicates an offer so compelling that refusal is nearly inconceivable.

not easy to decline

A more understated way of expressing the difficulty in refusing.

challenging to reject

Suggests that refusing requires effort or overcoming an obstacle.

it would be impolite to refuse

Focuses on the social implications of declining, suggesting it could be seen as rude.

irresistible offer

Highlights the tempting nature of the proposition, making refusal unlikely.

difficult to dismiss

Suggests the idea or proposal is serious and should be given more thought before refusing it.

onerous to decline

Using more formal register, this alternative highlights burden imposed if decision to decline must be taken.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to decline" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to decline" to describe offers or requests that are very tempting or socially pressuring. For example: "The job offer was so generous that it was "hard to decline"."

What is a synonym for "hard to decline"?

Synonyms for "hard to decline" include "difficult to refuse", "tough to turn down", or "almost impossible to reject", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "hard to decline"?

It's appropriate to use "hard to decline" when there are compelling reasons making it difficult to refuse, such as significant benefits, social obligations, or potential negative consequences. It is not appropriate when simple personal preference dictates your decision.

Is "hard to decline" formal or informal?

"Hard to decline" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both professional and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation.