heroic assumption

USAGE SUMMARY

"heroic assumption" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an assumption or assumption-making process that is particularly brave or bold. For example, "The CEO's heroic assumption of responsibility for the company's losses saved it from bankruptcy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

That is a heroic assumption.

The Economist

This looks like an heroic assumption.

The Guardian

BEGIN with a heroic assumption: that George W. Bush does indeed become president.

The Economist

Drawing on the work of Professor Robert Gordon of Northwestern University, Wolf argues that "unlimited growth is a heroic assumption".

The Guardian

In this context a further 30,000 places followed by years of unlimited expansion looks either disingenuous or a heroic assumption.

The Guardian

Assuming that the country holds together, a somewhat heroic assumption at this stage, elections for a new government won't be held until the end of May, which is three months away.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It takes some very heroic assumptions to see that happening.

The New York Times

Embedded within his argument are several heroic assumptions.

The Economist

These calculations certainly make some heroic assumptions about changing consumer behaviour.

The Economist

"We're looking at years of deficits, even making heroic assumptions about revenue growth".

The New York Times

To put it more charitably, his generosity was predicated on a series of rather heroic assumptions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly signal to the reader that you are aware that you're making an extraordinary claim.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "heroic assumption" as a certainty or a highly probable outcome. Doing so can undermine your credibility and mislead the audience. Instead, acknowledge the speculative nature of the assumption and its potential impact if it proves incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heroic assumption" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "heroic" modifies the noun "assumption". According to Ludwig AI, it describes an assumption that is particularly brave or bold, often implying a degree of unlikeliness or over-optimism.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heroic assumption" is a frequently used phrase that points out a bold or optimistic assumption, often implying it is unrealistic or poorly supported. Analysis indicates it functions as a noun phrase, and serves to critically evaluate the statements that they are a part of. Its register is neutral, commonly found in news and business domains. Ludwig AI confirms that "heroic assumption" is a correct and usable phrase in English. When using the phrase, be mindful of the potential for misinterpretation and ensure clarity by explaining the improbable nature of the assumption. Related phrases such as "optimistic presupposition" and "unrealistic premise" offer alternative ways to express similar sentiments. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase the expression's versatility in various contexts, particularly in political and economic discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

optimistic presupposition

Replaces "assumption" with "presupposition", emphasizing the underlying belief rather than the act of assuming, and "heroic" with "optimistic", softening the potential criticism.

bold conjecture

Substitutes "assumption" with "conjecture", highlighting the speculative nature, and "heroic" with "bold", focusing on the audacity of the claim.

ambitious hypothesis

Replaces "assumption" with "hypothesis", framing it as a starting point for investigation, and "heroic" with "ambitious", underscoring the scale of the proposition.

overly optimistic expectation

Uses "expectation" instead of "assumption", shifting the focus to anticipated outcomes, and adds "overly" to intensify the degree of optimism.

unrealistic premise

Replaces "assumption" with "premise", indicating a foundation for reasoning, and "heroic" with "unrealistic", directly questioning its feasibility.

audacious claim

Focuses on the declaration itself, using "claim" instead of "assumption", and emphasizes its boldness with "audacious".

risky proposition

Presents the assumption as something to be tested or considered, using "proposition", and highlights the potential for failure with "risky".

presumptuous belief

Emphasizes the confidence behind the assumption, using "belief" instead of "assumption", and adds a critical tone with "presumptuous".

extravagant expectation

Focuses on the high level of anticipation associated with the assumption, using "expectation" and describing it as "extravagant".

far-fetched supposition

Replaces "assumption" with "supposition", highlighting the speculative nature, and describes it as "far-fetched" to indicate its implausibility.

FAQs

How can I use "heroic assumption" in a sentence?

You can use "heroic assumption" to describe a bold or optimistic assumption that may not be realistic. For example, "The budget plan relies on a "heroic assumption" about future economic growth."

What are some alternatives to saying "heroic assumption"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "optimistic presupposition", "bold conjecture", or "unrealistic premise" to convey a similar meaning. See the full list of alternatives phrases above.

Is "heroic assumption" a negative or positive term?

"Heroic assumption" is generally neutral to slightly negative, implying that the assumption is bold but potentially unfounded. The connotation depends on the context and how the assumption is presented.

What makes an assumption "heroic"?

An assumption is considered "heroic" when it requires a significant leap of faith or relies on improbable conditions to hold true. It often involves overlooking potential obstacles or risks.