liable to start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "liable to start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is likely to begin or occur, often in a context where there is a possibility of an event happening. Example: "The storm is liable to start any minute now, so we should take cover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

If you have been told that God detached the son-part of himself, as it were, to become a human being, and get crucified, you are liable to start feeling rather more respectful towards all human beings.

The Economist

Crawford is like Kazakhstan, expensive but troubled; Beckett is Georgia, valuable but liable to start a war; Nick Punto, the throw-in utility infielder is Moldova; Gonzalez, the valuable breadbasket, is the Ukraine.

The New Yorker

On the other hand, Wolfie, leave the sons of bitches alone and they are liable to start crawling back into the womb or somewhere if you drop a porkpie hat".

The New Yorker

"One's liable to start coming adrift, at least this one is," he remarks, that ever-so-English third-person account of oneself leaving no doubt as to the first person to whom Butley refers.

The New York Times - Arts

The airline's first-class passengers sip Champagne, while those in "low class" fight over fried chicken, but just about everyone is loud, crude, oversexed and liable to start dancing at the slightest provocation.

The New York Times

Lucy Eyre is acute in recognising that it's as teenagers that we're liable to start asking important questions, but frequently come off sounding ridiculous because we aren't given the right tools to address our concerns.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The result is a state of perpetual magical thinking, a kind of Alice in Wonderland world where concepts have bodies and landscapes are always liable to get up and start talking: Blessed are the small farms conjugating Horace, and the olive trees as twisted as Ovid's syntax, Virgilian twilight on the hides of cattle and the small turreted castles on the Tuscan slopes.

The New Yorker

He has called himself a "street fighter," and once tussled with an ABC reporter and warned: "If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot".

The New York Times

When ABC News ran a story on Blankenship's blatant efforts to buy influence with the West Virginia Supreme Court, Blankenship threatened the reporters, saying, "If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot".

Huffington Post

The best way to do it is to start with just a few beans at a time, otherwise they're liable to go flying across the room.

WikiHow

New TV shows are liable to pop up any time these days, but over the last few years January has solidified its position as the start of television's second season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating simple probability, use "likely to start".

Common error

Avoid using "liable to start" when you simply mean something is likely to happen without any negative implication. In such cases, "likely to start" is a more appropriate and neutral choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "liable to start" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or probability. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in indicating that something is likely to happen or begin, often with an implication of potential consequences, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "liable to start" is a grammatically sound construction used to indicate a strong possibility or probability, frequently with an implied negative consequence. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is commonly found in news media and general writing, serving to caution about potential outcomes. Remember to use "liable to start" when you want to emphasize not just likelihood, but also a potential problem. If you are just trying to express probability without the negative implications, consider alternatives like "likely to begin" or "prone to initiate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely to begin

Emphasizes the probability of something commencing.

liable to trigger

Similar to the original, but emphasizes the potential for something to be set off.

prone to initiate

Highlights a tendency or predisposition towards starting something.

apt to commence

Suggests a natural inclination or suitability for something to start.

set to initiate

Conveys a sense of being prepared or arranged to begin something.

inclined to trigger

Implies a leaning or propensity to cause something to begin.

disposed to generate

Focuses on a readiness or willingness to produce or start something.

susceptible to starting

Highlights vulnerability or openness to something beginning.

predisposed to commence

Indicates a pre-existing tendency or inclination to start.

tending to begin

Expresses a usual pattern or habit of starting something.

FAQs

What does "liable to start" mean?

The phrase "liable to start" means that something is likely or prone to begin, often with the implication of a potential negative outcome or consequence. It suggests a higher probability than simply saying something is "likely".

When is it appropriate to use "liable to start" in a sentence?

Use "liable to start" when you want to emphasize the probability of something commencing, particularly if there's an element of risk or concern associated with its beginning. For example: "If you provoke him, he's liable to start a fight."

What are some alternatives to "liable to start"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to begin", "prone to initiate", or "apt to commence" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

How does "liable to start" differ from "likely to start"?

"Likely to start" generally indicates a simple probability, while "liable to start" suggests a higher degree of probability and often implies a potential negative consequence. The difference is subtle but important for precise communication.