in immediate jeopardy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in immediate jeopardy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where someone or something is in a situation that poses an imminent risk or danger. Example: "The patient was in immediate jeopardy, requiring urgent medical intervention to stabilize their condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Spiezio was on second base, the Yankees' lead in immediate jeopardy.

The New York Times - Sports

That is not great news for Leshoure, but it also doesn't suggest that his starting job is in immediate jeopardy.

The New York Times

Officials placed the hospital in "immediate jeopardy," which indicates a hospital's errors have caused or are likely to cause serious injury or death to patients.

University of California, Berkeley

In any case, the team's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, was quick to clarify on Sunday evening that Allegri's position is not in immediate jeopardy.

The Guardian - Sport

Your proposal would place the city's operating budget in immediate jeopardy by creating a deficit in the next fiscal year of more than $1 billion.

The New York Times

Mr. Salazar's job is not in immediate jeopardy, and the president values the work he has done and will continue to do at the Interior Department, said Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Speaking privately in order to be candid, even harsh critics of Mr. Boehner said that his position was in no immediate jeopardy.

The New York Times

"It places the jobs of tens of thousands of workers in serious and immediate jeopardy and promises a substantial reduction in domestic energy production.

The New York Times

But the journalist in the most immediate jeopardy is Toni Locy.

The New York Times

A regulator's inspection in January highlighted "immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety", but Theranos has not resolved the issues raised, the letter claims.

The Guardian - Tech

Now, federal inspectors -- who asked the state inspectors to return last month for the more extensive survey that resulted in the finding of immediate jeopardy -- are seeking the state's inspection records to review why the Health Department gave Chandler a relatively clean bill of health after the earlier visits.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing situations where the danger isn't quite certain or the potential harm is less severe, consider alternatives like "at risk" or "potentially threatened".

Common error

While "in immediate jeopardy" is powerful, avoid using it in situations that are only slightly risky. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact when describing truly critical scenarios. Choose wording that accurately reflects the level of danger.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in immediate jeopardy" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of urgent risk. It highlights the imminent and serious nature of a threat. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for written English. The examples illustrate how it's used to describe situations involving imminent danger.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in immediate jeopardy" is a powerful phrase used to describe situations of urgent and significant risk. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and well-established in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, where the need to convey serious and imminent danger is paramount. When writing, it's important to reserve this phrase for situations where harm is highly likely without intervention, avoiding overuse to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives such as "in imminent danger" or "at grave risk" for varying degrees of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in imminent danger

Focuses on the impending nature of the danger, similar to "immediate" but emphasizes the closeness of the threat.

at grave risk

Emphasizes the seriousness and potential consequences of the situation.

under immediate threat

Highlights the active presence of a threatening force or circumstance.

in perilous circumstances

Focuses on the dangerous conditions surrounding a person or thing.

facing acute danger

Acute suggests a sharp and intense level of danger.

in a precarious state

Describes a situation lacking stability and prone to sudden collapse or danger.

at critical risk

Emphasizes that the risk level is at a point of crisis or potential failure.

exposed to immediate hazard

Highlights the vulnerability and direct exposure to a specific danger.

in a vulnerable position

Focuses on the lack of protection or defense against potential harm.

on the brink of disaster

Indicates that a catastrophic event is very close to occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "in immediate jeopardy" in a sentence?

This phrase indicates a situation where someone or something faces an imminent risk of harm. For example, "The hospital's violations placed patients "in immediate jeopardy", requiring immediate action."

What's a more formal synonym for "in immediate jeopardy"?

Alternatives such as "in imminent danger" or "at grave risk" can be used in more formal contexts to convey a similar sense of urgency and seriousness.

When is it appropriate to use "in immediate jeopardy"?

Use this phrase when the risk is both serious and imminent, meaning harm is likely to occur very soon if nothing is done. For less urgent situations, consider alternatives like "at risk" or "potentially threatened".

What are some common misuses of "in immediate jeopardy"?

A common mistake is using this phrase when the risk is potential rather than imminent. It's also an error to use it for situations that aren't inherently dangerous or life-threatening. Always ensure the context justifies the strong implication of imminent harm.