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it's a foregone conclusion
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the Highbury sports and social club, overlooking Fleetwood's ground, it's a foregone conclusion.

News & Media

The Guardian

"Although a lot of people are assuming he would get the mayor's endorsement, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion," said someone who has advised the mayor politically and requested anonymity because he did not want to be quoted discussing the mayor's thinking.

News & Media

The New York Times

Google's Nexus 5 is not a real thing yet, but at this point it's a foregone conclusion; Google will update its Android reference smartphone, which comes with the clean stock version of its mobile operating system, and it'll probably do it today.

News & Media

TechCrunch

More importantly, it's a foregone conclusion that the candidate with Putin's name — or endorsement — will win the presidency.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, with Stonecipher in the C.E.O.'s seat," said Prof. Charles Hill at the University of Washington School of Business in Seattle.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, but I'm not very optimistic," Lewis's lawyer in the United States, Milton Chwasky, said on the prospect of the W.B.A. continuing to recognize Lewis as champion.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

For me, it's a foregone conclusion that Nestle, which currently owns 24% of Dreyer's, will buy it, in large part because Dreyer's controls distribution channels for other premium brands, such as Ben & Jerry's, Starbucks, Edy's and Godiva, that reach an estimated 89% of U.S. households.

News & Media

Forbes

"It's a foregone conclusion.

News & Media

The New York Times

It's almost like it's a foregone conclusion.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

To these companies it's a foregone conclusion.

News & Media

The Guardian - Money

"I definitely do not think it's a foregone conclusion.

News & Media

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is highly effective in political and sports commentary to describe situations where one side has an overwhelming advantage.

Common error

Do not pair this phrase with other modifiers of certainty like 'absolutely' or 'completely' (e.g., 'it's an absolutely foregone conclusion'). The word 'foregone' already implies a total lack of doubt, making extra modifiers redundant.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's a foregone conclusion" functions as a predicative expression where the dummy subject 'it' refers to a specific situation or outcome. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to categorize a future event as effectively already decided. Grammatically, 'foregone' acts as a participial adjective modifying 'conclusion'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

Social Media

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it's a foregone conclusion" is a powerful idiomatic tool used to signal that a particular outcome is inevitable. Ludwig AI data confirms its prevalence in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, where it often describes political victories, economic shifts or sports results that feel predestined. While it is acceptable in professional and neutral contexts, writers should be mindful of its strong rhetorical weight—it effectively shuts down the idea of debate or alternative possibilities. It remains one of the most stable and frequently used idioms in contemporary English for expressing total confidence in a predicted result.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's a done deal

Emphasizes that a negotiation or decision is already completed and unchangeable.

it's a given

Indicates that something is assumed to be true or will happen without question.

it's a certainty

A more direct, less idiomatic way to state that something is 100% likely.

it's inevitable

A formal adjective-based clause emphasizing that the outcome cannot be avoided.

it's bound to happen

Focuses on the inevitability of an event occurring in the future.

it's a sure thing

A colloquial expression for a guaranteed result or outcome.

it's in the bag

A more informal idiom often used in sports or competitions to suggest victory is certain.

it's all over but the shouting

An older idiom suggesting the result is decided even if the event isn't technically finished.

it's predictable

Suggests the outcome was expected based on previous patterns, though slightly less emphatic about certainty.

it goes without saying

Used when an outcome is so obvious it does not need to be explicitly stated.

FAQs

How do I use "it's a foregone conclusion" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce an inevitable result, such as: "With the polls showing a 30-point lead, "it's a foregone conclusion" that she will win."

What is the origin of the phrase "it's a foregone conclusion"?

The phrase was popularized by William Shakespeare in his play Othello, referring to a conclusion reached before the evidence is fully presented.

Is "it's a foregone conclusion" formal enough for business reports?

Yes, it is widely used in professional contexts like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. However, for a more neutral tone, you might prefer "it's inevitable".

What is the difference between "it's a foregone conclusion" and "it's a given"?

While both imply certainty, "it's a given" often refers to an underlying assumption or premise, whereas "it's a foregone conclusion" specifically refers to the end result of a process or event.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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it's a foregone conclusionGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's a foregone conclusion
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples