leave a decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leave a decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone should allow a decision to be made or deferred by someone else. Example: "I think it's best to leave a decision on the project until we have more information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

He wants to leave, a decision made before the announcement about Ferguson.

Independent

Redknapp plans to leave a decision on whether the star winger will play until the last minute.

Independent

It was government's responsibility to order the Manganos to leave, "a decision that calls on the government to say, 'Mabel, you've got to go.' And nobody said that".

The New York Times

Even though the Mets will not leave a decision to the player, they avoided a potentially dicey situation by putting Wright on the disabled list immediately, rather than delaying the move.

The New York Times - Sports

That would leave a decision to be made about the next tier: Missouri's Drew Lock, Duke's Daniel Jones, North Carolina State's Ryan Finley, West Virginia's Will Grier, Northwestern's Clayton Thorson and others, depending on where they line up on the draft board.

The Washington Post

Security guards were also ordered to leave, a decision described as unusual.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

German soccer officials, while understanding of Hoffenheim's frustration, left a decision on the goal to FIFA, which essentially guaranteed that it would not be overturned.

The New York Times - Sports

The 2009 American law banned flavored cigarettes but left a decision on menthol to the F.D.A., which has not yet proposed any regulations.

The New York Times

Noncommittal in the meeting, Mr. Sarney later issued an ambiguously worded decree that left a decision on demarcation for the next government.

The New York Times

Initially the ABL postponed the series, leaving a decision as to whether the games would be re-scheduled to a later time.

Wikipedia

Leaving a decision trail may be a way to enhance confirmability.

BMC Women's Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave a decision" when you want to explicitly state that the responsibility for making a choice rests with someone else. This clarifies accountability and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "leave a decision" when you are actually influencing or predetermining the outcome. Ensure the person to whom you are leaving the decision has genuine autonomy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave a decision" functions primarily as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of delegating or deferring a choice. Ludwig confirms this, showing examples where the phrase is used to assign decision-making authority to another party. The verb "leave" implies transferring responsibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave a decision" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to indicate that the responsibility for making a choice is being delegated or deferred to someone else. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is generally used in neutral to professional contexts, such as news, science, and business. When using this phrase, ensure that the intended recipient of the decision-making authority has genuine autonomy and the necessary information to make an informed choice. Alternative phrases like "defer a decision" or "delegate the decision" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defer a decision

Focuses on postponing the decision to a later time.

postpone a decision

Highlights the act of delaying the decision-making process.

delegate the decision

Emphasizes assigning the responsibility of making the decision to someone else.

pass on the decision

Indicates transferring the decision-making power.

hand over the decision

Similar to delegate but may imply a more formal transfer.

put off the decision

Highlights delaying the decision, often due to reluctance.

table the decision

Formal way of postponing a discussion or decision.

hold off on the decision

Suggests waiting before making a final decision.

reserve judgment

Implies withholding a decision until more information is available.

delay the ruling

Specifically refers to postponing a formal ruling or judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "leave a decision" in a sentence?

You can use "leave a decision" to indicate that someone else has the authority to make a choice, such as: "We will "leave a decision" on the budget to the finance committee".

What does "leave a decision" mean?

"Leave a decision" means to allow someone else to make a choice or judgment about something. It implies delegating authority or responsibility for a specific outcome.

What are some alternatives to "leave a decision"?

Alternatives include "defer a decision", "postpone a decision", or "delegate the decision", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "leave a decision" or make it myself?

Whether to "leave a decision" to someone else depends on the situation. If you lack the expertise or the other person has more relevant information, it may be better to "leave a decision" to them. However, if the decision aligns with your responsibilities and you have the necessary information, it's better to make it yourself.