idea to him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "idea to him" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that a concept or thought is being presented to someone, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "I shared my idea with him, but he didn't seem interested in the idea to him."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Aikens said that sounded like a great idea to him.

The New York Times

I called up Salle and put the idea to him.

The New Yorker

In fact when I first put the idea to him, he said no.

The New York Times - Arts

He came in, and we pitched the idea to him, and he ran with it.

The New Yorker

He knew Johann-Peter Hinz, a prominent sculptor in Halberstadt, and took the idea to him.

The New York Times - Arts

Escapule said a couple business owners proposed the idea to him.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

But Trump didn't dismiss them, either, even after stories appeared attributing the ideas to him.

The New Yorker

Various Muslim writers have ascribed three fundamental religious ideas to him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bring him any news you hear, and take your ideas to him before sharing them with others.

Harvard Business Review

The writer has avoided using too many of Hall's key phrases and clearly attributes his ideas to him without distorting their meaning.

University of California, Berkeley

In the twenty-some years that I submitted ideas to him, he did, as it happened, accept two stories that relied on projection into chartless time.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, replace "idea to him" with stronger verbs like "suggested", "presented", or "pitched", which clearly indicate the action being performed with the idea.

Common error

Avoid using the construction "idea to him" as it can sound unnatural. Opt for more direct phrasing such as "presented the idea to him" or "suggested the idea to him" for improved clarity and flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "idea to him" functions as a prepositional phrase, often indicating the recipient of an idea. Ludwig AI analysis suggests this phrase may not be the most grammatically sound choice, and direct alternatives often offer improved clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "idea to him" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI analysis indicates it's not the most grammatically precise choice. More direct alternatives such as "presented the idea to him" or "suggested the idea to him" are often clearer and more impactful. While prevalent in news and media, remember that alternative phrasing enhances clarity and professionalism, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

presented him with the idea

Replaces the prepositional structure with a verb-object structure, making it more direct.

suggested the idea to him

Emphasizes the act of proposing the idea.

pitched the idea to him

Indicates a persuasive presentation of the idea.

proposed the idea to him

Highlights the formal offering of the idea for consideration.

shared the idea with him

Focuses on the act of communicating the idea.

communicated the idea to him

Highlights the formal aspect of sharing the idea

ran the idea by him

Implies an informal sharing of the idea for feedback.

introduced the idea to him

Highlights the first exposure to the idea.

gave him the idea

Focuses on the provision of the idea.

offered the idea to him

Highlights the act of providing the idea as a suggestion.

FAQs

What's a clearer way to phrase "idea to him"?

Instead of "idea to him", consider using phrases like "presented him with the idea", "suggested the idea to him", or "pitched the idea to him" for better clarity.

Is "idea to him" grammatically correct?

While used, "idea to him" isn't the most grammatically sound phrase. Alternatives like "the idea was presented to him" or "he was given the idea" offer better grammatical structure.

How can I use "idea to him" in a sentence effectively?

It's generally better to rephrase. Instead of "The idea to him seemed good", try "He thought the idea was good" or "The idea appealed to him".

What's the difference between "idea to him" and "idea for him"?

"Idea to him" suggests presenting an idea, while "idea for him" implies an idea designed or intended for his benefit or use. Consider the context to choose the more appropriate phrasing.