it is impossible to expect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is impossible to expect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something cannot be anticipated or relied upon. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it is impossible to expect a positive outcome from the negotiations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Jarvis is not calling for extra money and accepts that it is impossible to expect the SDSR to be scrapped.

The Guardian

"I understand that it is impossible to expect baseball to be able to change what happened in Tohoku," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"When you play so badly in all areas of the pitch it is impossible to expect anything from the game.

The Guardian - Sport

What it will find cannot be foreseen, but it is impossible to expect that experiments at the LHC will answer all the questions concerning this new physics.

Nature

This fact discourages visitors and immigrants, and it is impossible to expect great people to fight an unpleasant and bureaucratic system if they believe entry is impossible.

The New York Times

But, leaving the First Amendment to the Constitution aside, there seems to be something even more fundamental that falls outside the comprehension of the outraged protesters: the volume of material posted on YouTube now is so huge that it is impossible to expect the company, let alone the government, to be aware of everything published there.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Jivani stressed that this work is relatively new and still being developed, so it's impossible to expect change quickly.

Vice

It's impossible to expect a true sense of privacy among 55,000 people, but users and bioethicists alike have lingering questions about Facebook's use of data.

HuffPost

Competition is up, market conditions are less favourable, investors are more demanding and regulators are watching the industry closely.Given the strong showing in recent years, "it would be impossible to expect similar levels of return over the next five-year period," says John Barber, head of private equity for Citibank Alternative Investments.

The Economist

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, told last month's international donors' conference that unless the government got direct budget support it would be impossible to expect bigger rebuilding plans to succeed.

The New York Times

Because it is impossible in level 3 to define a complete list of scenarios and related probabilities, it is impossible to calculate the expected value of different strategies.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is impossible to expect" to set realistic expectations in situations where outcomes are uncertain or dependent on factors beyond control. For example, "Given the limited resources, it is impossible to expect immediate results."

Common error

Avoid using "it is impossible to expect" when a situation is simply unlikely or difficult, not truly impossible. Using stronger words like "unlikely" or "unreasonable" maintains credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is impossible to expect" functions as a means of expressing a lack of reasonable anticipation for a specific outcome. It conveys that the possibility of something happening is so unlikely that anticipating it is futile. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

36%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is impossible to expect" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey a lack of reasonable anticipation for a specific outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function is to manage expectations or express skepticism. While suitable for various contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media and scientific sources, lending itself to neutral or formal settings. When using this phrase, consider alternative expressions like "it is unrealistic to anticipate" to better suit the tone and context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is unrealistic to anticipate

Replaces "impossible" with "unrealistic" and "expect" with "anticipate", softening the assertion of impossibility.

it is unreasonable to assume

Substitutes "impossible" with "unreasonable" and "expect" with "assume", focusing on the lack of justification for the assumption.

one cannot reasonably anticipate

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "it is impossible" with "one cannot reasonably" and "expect" with "anticipate".

it would be naive to think

Shifts the focus to the potential naivety of holding a certain expectation.

it is overly optimistic to hope

Highlights the excessive optimism associated with the expectation.

it's too much to ask

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the excessive demands implied by the expectation.

it is futile to imagine

Replaces "expect" with "imagine", emphasizing the uselessness of entertaining a particular thought.

there's no basis to believe

Highlights the lack of supporting evidence for the expectation.

it defies logic to assume

Emphasizes the illogical nature of the assumption, rather than simply the impossibility of expecting it.

it's a stretch to foresee

Uses a more informal tone, indicating that the expectation is a difficult or unlikely prospect.

FAQs

What does "it is impossible to expect" mean?

The phrase "it is impossible to expect" signifies that it is unreasonable or unrealistic to anticipate a particular outcome or behavior. It suggests that the likelihood of something happening is so low as to be practically nonexistent.

What can I say instead of "it is impossible to expect"?

You can use alternatives like "it is unrealistic to anticipate", "it is unreasonable to assume", or "one cannot reasonably anticipate" depending on the context.

How do I use "it is impossible to expect" in a sentence?

The phrase is used to preface a statement about something that cannot reasonably be anticipated. For example, "Given the circumstances, it is impossible to expect a quick resolution."

Is "it is impossible to expect" formal or informal?

The phrase "it is impossible to expect" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is slightly more common in formal writing and speech. However, alternatives may be more appropriate depending on the specific situation.