Sentence examples for it was a substitute from inspiring English sources

You could argue that it was a substitute for revolution.

Sometimes it was a substitute for a coherent plot.

First of all it was a substitute for something – wood – and it looked ugly to our eyes.

Having children made Springsteen realise that his work wasn't his life, it was a substitute for life.

Still, although Bale was the focus of much of Slovakia's planning, it was a substitute — Hal Robson-Kanu — who secured Wales's victory.

"Marvin Gaye & His Women" was originally released in 1973; even then, it was a substitute for (and an update of) "Marvin Gaye and His Girls," from 1969.

"It's a substitute for a good memory," he said.

"It is a substitute for tales of ghosts and goblins".

"In some cases, it's a substitute for parents".

In some cases, it is a substitute entirely.

But the impression yielded by the correspondence is that it's a substitute.