it is silly to expect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is silly to expect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that having certain expectations is unreasonable or foolish. Example: "It is silly to expect everyone to agree on every issue; differing opinions are natural."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the most entertaining of the current crop of books, "The Ape in the Corner Office" (Crown $25), Richard Conniff, a longtime nature writer, argues that it is silly to expect people to be much better than chimpanzees, given that "by some estimates the difference between our two species may be a matter of fewer than 50 genes out of perhaps 25,000 shared in common".

The New York Times

After all, modern alphaproteobacterial genomes are highly chimaeric themselves, and it is silly to expect that any modern bacterium should possess exactly the same collection of genes as the ancestor of mitochondria possessed.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Perhaps Dylan learned that idols never live up to a fan's expectations, and so it's silly to expect otherwise.

The New Yorker

Boehner also says that it's silly to expect Congress to give up its power to loudly threaten the global economy by continually holding the debt ceiling hostage, which is just downright sociopathic.

Huffington Post

Perhaps it was silly to expect Run the Jewels to release their first "proper" album on its scheduled date.

The Guardian - Music

The headphone jack is still in place — which is a good thing for a budget device — it's silly to expect users to have to factor in the price of bluetooth headphones.

TechCrunch

It's silly to expect them to lead that change -- that's our job.

Huffington Post

"The biggest response is that I'm silly to expect people not to take me literally," says Fields.

The Guardian - Tech

"In a democracy, it would be silly to expect it to go unexpressed".

BBC

It would be silly to expect Abigail Breslin — or Kit Kittredge, the indomitable character she plays in the movie — to redress this imbalance all by herself.

The New York Times

"Faced with a problem, people try bribes, personal connections or force".After decades of totalitarianism and centuries of autocracy, it would be silly to expect Russia to sprout a strong civil society and independent institutions like mushrooms.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is silly to expect" when you want to gently discourage unrealistic expectations, especially when dealing with people's behavior or complex systems. It can soften the blow of disappointment by framing the expectation as unreasonable from the start.

Common error

Avoid using "it is silly to expect" too frequently in your writing. While effective, overuse can make your tone sound condescending or overly critical. Vary your language with alternatives to maintain a balanced and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is silly to expect" functions as an introductory expression to convey that a particular expectation is unreasonable or unrealistic. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and used to soften the expression of disagreement or disapproval.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is silly to expect" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that certain expectations are unrealistic or unreasonable. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media sources, with occasional usage in scientific contexts. The phrase serves to manage expectations gently, and while versatile, should be used judiciously to avoid sounding condescending. Alternative phrases such as "it's unreasonable to anticipate" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's unreasonable to anticipate

Emphasizes the lack of reason in anticipating something.

it's foolish to think

Highlights the lack of wisdom in believing something.

it's naive to assume

Focuses on the innocence or lack of experience in making an assumption.

it's absurd to imagine

Highlights the ridiculousness of imagining something.

it's preposterous to believe

Emphasizes the outrageous nature of believing something.

it's unrealistic to hope

Highlights the lack of practicality in hoping for something.

it's pointless to presume

Focuses on the lack of value in presuming something.

it's a waste of time to count on

Emphasizes the futility of relying on something.

expecting that is a mistake

Directly points out the error in having a certain expectation.

it's not wise to anticipate

Suggests a lack of good judgement in anticipating something.

FAQs

How can I use "it is silly to expect" in a sentence?

You can use "it is silly to expect" to express that certain expectations are unrealistic or foolish. For example, "It is silly to expect everyone to agree on every issue." Or, "It is silly to expect perfection from someone who is just learning a new skill."

What are some alternatives to "it is silly to expect"?

Alternatives include "it's unreasonable to anticipate", "it's foolish to think", or "it's naive to assume", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it's silly to expect" instead of "it is silly to expect"?

Yes, both "it is silly to expect" and "it's silly to expect" are grammatically correct. The latter is simply a contraction of the former and is perfectly acceptable in most contexts.

What's the difference between "it is silly to expect" and "it would be silly to expect"?

"It is silly to expect" suggests that the expectation is generally unreasonable. "It would be silly to expect" implies that, in a specific situation or context, the expectation is unreasonable. The difference is subtle, but the latter can be more context-dependent.