have a delayed reaction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have a delayed reaction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone responds to a stimulus or event after a noticeable pause or time lapse. Example: "After hearing the shocking news, I had a delayed reaction and didn't know how to respond immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Can a baseball curse have a delayed reaction, like a pharmaceutical capsule that kicks in hours (or decades) later?

The New York Times - Sports

And voters can sometimes have a delayed reaction to these sorts of events: Rick Perry's poorly received debate on Sept. 22 initially produced little change in the polls, but his numbers began to embark on a sharp downward trajectory about a week later.

The New York Times

Furthermore, when being tested for the two diseases, patients with SU have a reaction immediately while patients with lupus erythematosus will have a delayed reaction.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Liberal education is a real eye-opener -- but it has a delayed reaction.

The New York Times

Shaw: We were surprised to find that fathers had a delayed reaction in terms of their trauma response.

Stanford University

Sencion had a delayed reaction to the punch, but when he felt it, he dropped to one knee, and when he regained his feet, he was never the same.

The New York Times - Sports

Joe Scarborough, a host of the MSNBC program, was talking on Friday about an anecdote in a recent Washington Post story suggesting that Mr. Weiner had a delayed reaction to a homophobic slur made by a voter about Christine C. Quinn, one of his chief rivals in the Democratic mayoral primary.

The New York Times

But edible marijuana has a delayed reaction so people often keep eating, looking for a buzz.

Los Angeles Times

"I'm collecting unemployment, but it's not even enough to make one house payment". Next: "I had a delayed reaction in getting started.

Los Angeles Times

Brown gained a two-count on Cage after slamming him against the mat with his signature Alpha Bomb maneuver and covered for the pin, but the referee had a delayed reaction.

Wikipedia

Initially I thought the Swiss were having a delayed reaction to their Muslim population, but after reading H.A".s Hellyer's "Daily Beast" piece on how Europe's Muslims should respond to the Swiss, I see that Switzerland's move has to do with a much larger issue of European identity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional responses, "have a delayed reaction" is useful to convey that the full impact of an event wasn't immediately felt or understood. Use it to highlight the unfolding of emotions over time.

Common error

Be careful not to use "have a delayed reaction" when the subject exhibits no reaction at all. A delayed reaction implies that a response eventually occurs, just not immediately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a delayed reaction" functions as a verb phrase, describing the manner in which someone or something responds to a stimulus. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct. Examples show it used to describe physical, emotional, and even market responses.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have a delayed reaction" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes a response occurring after a period of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a verb phrase highlighting the temporal aspect of a reaction. While predominantly found in news and media, scientific, and Wiki contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various situations. Alternative phrases like "respond with a delay" or "react after a time lag" can be used to convey similar meanings, but be cautious not to confuse it with a complete lack of reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

react after a time lag

Emphasizes the time difference between the stimulus and the response.

respond with a delay

Highlights the delayed nature of the response.

show a late response

Focuses on the tardiness of the reaction.

exhibit a gradual response

Highlights the slowness of the reaction.

experience a lagged response

Formal way to describe the delayed timing of the response.

react in retrospect

Indicates a reaction occurring after reflecting on a past event.

process after a delay

Focuses on the delayed cognitive processing of information.

respond eventually

Highlights the eventual nature of the response.

develop a reaction over time

Emphasizes the development of the reaction as a process.

demonstrate a slow uptake

Focuses on slow understanding or adoption of something.

FAQs

How can I use "have a delayed reaction" in a sentence?

You can use "have a delayed reaction" to describe a situation where someone responds to an event or stimulus after some time has passed. For example, "She "had a delayed reaction" to the news, processing it slowly over several hours".

What's the difference between "have a delayed reaction" and "react immediately"?

"Have a delayed reaction" indicates that the response occurs after a noticeable pause, while "react immediately" suggests an instantaneous response. They are antonyms, representing opposite ends of the reaction time spectrum.

What are some situations where someone might "have a delayed reaction"?

People might "have a delayed reaction" in situations involving shock, trauma, complex information, or when under the influence of certain substances. These circumstances can slow down cognitive and emotional processing.

What can I say instead of "have a delayed reaction"?

You can use alternatives like "respond with a delay", "react after a time lag", or "show a late response" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.