it may be ambitious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it may be ambitious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a plan, goal, or project that seems challenging or requires significant effort to achieve. Example: "The proposal for the new marketing strategy is quite innovative, but it may be ambitious given our current resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

That's unladen, pulling nothing but its own weight, and it may be ambitious.

Los Angeles Times

"It may be ambitious compared to what we've done before, but we're still at the back of the developed country pack," Hughes said.

Vice

Although it may be ambitious, our conclusion is that PMMSS may be the most reliable data source for measuring provincial level MMR in each province.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In it, she raises the question of why she is not ahead in the polls by fifty per cent; that may be ambitious, but it is hardly unhinged, particularly given the candidates' relative performances on Monday.

The New Yorker

Achieving these lofty goals may be ambitious, but it is not impossible.

Huffington Post

Shortly after the study was published, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "The goal of an AIDS-free generation may be ambitious, but it is possible".

Huffington Post

China may be ambitious and proud, but it is still in the throes of modernisation; it knows that its continued rise depends for now on the present order.

The Economist

The aim may be ambitious, the mayors say, but it is not such a stretch, considering the large ecosystem of production that is already here — Toyota's North American headquarters, Raytheon, two Ford plants and a General Electric manufacturing plant.

The New York Times

Even that may be ambitious, since Rio is selling its costlier and dirtier plants, keeping those with a captive and clean energy supply.

The New York Times

Representative Wolf's goals may be ambitious, she said, but are probably necessary -- even though it may take a while to achieve them.

The New York Times

Even this may be ambitious.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it may be ambitious" when you want to express that a plan or goal is innovative and potentially groundbreaking, but also carries a significant risk of failure or requires substantial resources.

Common error

While "it may be ambitious" acknowledges potential challenges, avoid using it solely to dismiss an idea. Balance the statement with a recognition of the potential benefits or innovative aspects of the plan.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it may be ambitious" functions as a qualifier, softening a judgment about the feasibility of a plan or goal. It acknowledges that while the plan has potential, it also carries a significant risk of being unachievable, as Ludwig examples suggest.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

26%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it may be ambitious" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that expresses a cautious assessment of a plan or goal. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It suggests that while there's potential, significant challenges exist. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using it, balance the acknowledgment of challenges with recognition of potential benefits to avoid sounding overly negative. Alternatives include "it might be a stretch" and "it could prove challenging", each offering slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it might be a stretch

Replaces "may" with "might" and "ambitious" with "a stretch", making it slightly more informal.

it could prove challenging

Substitutes "may be ambitious" with "could prove challenging", emphasizing the difficulty aspect.

it is potentially overoptimistic

Replaces "ambitious" with "overoptimistic", highlighting the risk of being too hopeful.

it seems somewhat unrealistic

Focuses on the lack of realism, suggesting the goal is not grounded in practical considerations.

it borders on the impractical

Implies the plan is nearing the point of being impossible to implement.

it's a long shot

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a low probability of success.

it presents significant hurdles

Highlights the obstacles and difficulties involved in achieving the goal.

its feasibility is questionable

Directly questions whether the plan can be realistically achieved.

success is far from assured

Emphasizes the uncertainty of a positive outcome.

achieving it may be difficult

Focuses on the difficulty of the achievement rather than ambition.

FAQs

What does "it may be ambitious" mean?

The phrase "it may be ambitious" suggests that a goal, plan, or idea is challenging and might be difficult to achieve, potentially requiring significant effort, resources, or luck.

How to use "it may be ambitious" in a sentence?

You can use "it may be ambitious" when assessing the feasibility of a project. For example: "Their goal to double sales within a year "it may be ambitious", considering the current market conditions."

What can I say instead of "it may be ambitious"?

You can use alternatives like "it might be a stretch", "it could prove challenging", or "it seems somewhat unrealistic depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it may be ambitious" the same as "it is ambitious"?

"It is ambitious" states directly that something is ambitious. "It may be ambitious" expresses uncertainty and suggests a potential overestimation of what can be achieved.