impossible to restrain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impossible to restrain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that cannot be controlled or limited in any way. Example: "The excitement in the crowd was impossible to restrain as the concert began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Frequently, it was impossible to restrain the activities of privateers within the legitimate bounds laid down in their commissions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The nub of the problem is that it will be impossible to restrain irresponsible users of land mines unless the entire international community, including the United States, is four-square against them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They also need education, and self-reliance in their life, and these are the sort of investments that are totally impossible, forcing us to restrain our activities to core life-saving and protection action, which is not what we want".

The Guardian

Boys with A.S.D. (they outnumber girls four to one) who were difficult to console, to teach, to restrain at age 4 or 8 can be nearly impossible for parents and teachers to manage and to steer at 14 and 18.

The New York Times - Magazine

We had to restrain him.

The New York Times - Sports

"We want to restrain spending.

The New York Times

Who wants to restrain me?

The New Yorker

To devise "conduct remedies" to restrain a firm as clever and as aggressive as Microsoft, without the need for constant and intrusive policing, may be impossible.

The Economist

I'm trying to restrain myself here.

The New Yorker

I've had to restrain myself.

The New York Times

There's very little to restrain you.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impossible to restrain" when emphasizing a complete lack of control over something, particularly in situations involving strong forces or emotions. For example: "The public's outrage was impossible to restrain."

Common error

Avoid using "impossible to restrain" in scenarios where simpler phrases like "difficult to manage" or "hard to control" would suffice. Save it for situations that genuinely convey an overwhelming sense of uncontrollability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible to restrain" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a verb, indicating the incapability of controlling or limiting something. Ludwig shows examples where it describes both external forces (like activities of privateers) and internal urges (like excitement).

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impossible to restrain" is a phrase used to express the complete lack of ability to control something. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is grammatically sound but relatively rare. The phrase is primarily used in neutral to formal contexts, such as news and encyclopedic writing, to emphasize the overwhelming nature of a force or emotion. Alternatives include "impossible to control" and "beyond control". While correct, it's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations where the lack of control is truly overwhelming, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impossible to control

Focuses directly on the lack of ability to govern or direct something.

out of control

Emphasizes a situation that has escaped regulation or direction.

beyond control

Indicates a state of being unmanageable or out of hand.

impossible to contain

Emphasizes the inability to keep something within specific boundaries or limits.

unmanageable

Highlights the difficulty or impossibility of dealing with something.

impossible to curb

Highlights the failure to restrict or check the progress of something.

impossible to suppress

Stresses the inability to prevent something from being expressed or known.

ungovernable

Describes something that cannot be ruled or managed effectively.

impossible to subdue

Implies the failure to bring someone or something under control by force.

impossible to tame

Suggests the inability to domesticate or civilize something wild or unruly.

FAQs

How can I use "impossible to restrain" in a sentence?

Use "impossible to restrain" to describe something that cannot be controlled or limited. For example: "The urge to celebrate was "impossible to restrain" after the victory."

What are some alternatives to "impossible to restrain"?

You can use alternatives like "impossible to control", "impossible to contain", or "beyond control" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "impossible to restrain"?

Yes, "impossible to restrain" is grammatically correct. It uses an adjective ("impossible") to modify the infinitive verb phrase "to restrain".

What is the difference between "impossible to restrain" and "difficult to restrain"?

"Impossible to restrain" suggests that there is no way to control something, while "difficult to restrain" implies that it is hard but potentially achievable to control.