it was foiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was foiled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a plan or attempt was thwarted or prevented from succeeding. Example: "The villain's elaborate scheme was foiled by the quick thinking of the hero."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It was foiled by Spanish police hours before the team planned to attach limpet mines to a British ship.

The Guardian

It was the second suicide attack in Kandahar Province over the past two days; the other one was Friday in the district of Panwaj, but it was foiled by police officers who killed the bomber.

The New York Times

Prosecutors claim the goal of the putsch, on the day of parliament elections in March 2016, was to stop Montenegro from joining Nato but it was foiled by the security services.

The Guardian

And an attempt to plant one where a particular "eccentric artist" would encounter it was foiled when this individual walked past the chair without stopping — and a "cute, hip couple" took it instead.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, its first big operation, an apparently overreaching plan to hijack a Pakistani frigate and attack American warships, came to naught after it was foiled by a guard.Although the army's battlefield success, splits in the TTP's ranks and a tug-of-war between IS and al-Qaeda have reduced violence in Pakistan, hopes of this lasting are not high.

The Economist

Unfortunately, it was foiled by the complicated needs of a high school football team, like precisely zero other Canadian politicians before him.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The alleged attempt to kill the king involved a plot to bomb the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao as Juan Carlos opened it, which was foiled by police.

The Guardian

An effort to launch it on Monday was foiled by the failure of Air Force radar needed to track the rocket for safety reasons.

The New York Times

Vanguard's attempt to launch its own S&P-based ETFs was foiled after it lost a licensing battle to S&P in court.

Forbes

The plot was foiled.

The Washington Post

*In 2000 the "Great Dome" robbery, was foiled.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was foiled" when you want to emphasize that an attempt was actively stopped or prevented by an opposing force or circumstance. This phrase adds a sense of drama and agency to the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "it was foiled" when something simply didn't work out due to natural causes or lack of resources. "It was foiled" implies active intervention, not passive failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was foiled" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject (often a plan or attempt) was acted upon and prevented from succeeding. Ludwig AI provides examples where plans to attack, bomb, or hijack were stopped, highlighting the phrase's role in narrating thwarted actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was foiled" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that a plan or attempt has been successfully prevented. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and academic contexts, conveying a sense of active intervention. Remember to use this phrase when you want to highlight that an attempt was actively stopped rather than simply failing on its own. If a less dramatic or more specific nuance is needed, consider using alternatives such as "it was thwarted" or "it was prevented".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was thwarted

Replaces 'foiled' with 'thwarted', suggesting a more forceful prevention.

it was prevented

Focuses on the act of stopping something before it occurs.

it was stopped

A more direct and simple way of saying something was prevented.

it was averted

Suggests danger or negative consequences were avoided.

it was frustrated

Emphasizes the feeling of being blocked or defeated.

it was defeated

Suggests a more active opposition led to the failure.

it was nullified

Highlights the cancellation or invalidation of something.

it was neutralized

Indicates that something was rendered ineffective.

it came to nothing

Emphasizes the complete lack of success.

it failed

A basic statement indicating a lack of success.

FAQs

What does "it was foiled" mean?

The phrase "it was foiled" means that a plan, attempt, or scheme was successfully prevented from succeeding. It implies an active intervention that stopped the action from happening.

How can I use "it was foiled" in a sentence?

You can use "it was foiled" to describe any situation where an attempt was actively stopped. For example: "The bank robbery "it was foiled" by the security system".

What can I say instead of "it was foiled"?

You can use alternatives like "it was thwarted", "it was prevented", or "it was averted" depending on the context.

Is "it was foiled" formal or informal?

"It was foiled" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it may sound slightly more dramatic than simpler alternatives like "it failed".