liable to trigger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "liable to trigger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is likely to cause a particular reaction or event. Example: "The new policy changes are liable to trigger a backlash from the employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It is a movie about memory: a gunshot is always liable to trigger the memory of previous violence, the trauma lurks nearby, at point-blank range, part of a skein of remembered bloodshed extending backwards as the revenge plot pushes forwards.

The Guardian - Film

Both sequences involve spurts of multiple gunplay, which, as we know from an average week at the movies, or in front of the TV, is liable to trigger all manner of stylistic folly; but Maclean holds his nerve, and somehow finds order in the uproar.

The New Yorker

No wellspring of learning is left unfathomed, while the commonest observation – a shoe buckle, the buffering circle on a computer screen – is liable to trigger a poststructural disquisition on time and memory, or a lesson on how iodine or ventilation systems work.

The Guardian - Books

They are liable to trigger sensors for up to 95 days following their intervention.Last year, America's Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a notice urging hospitals to give patients a document to show to the authorities before they close in with the rubber gloves.

The Economist

As homework, patients should be asked to practice their own problem-solving skills, looking out for events that would be liable to trigger changes in their eating or exercising and addressing them using the problem-solving procedure.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If you follow your favourite brands of shoe and ice-cream, plus numerous actors, supermarkets, celebrity pets and music festivals, you might find yourself receiving an awful lot of concerned emails – although the app boasts a "whitelist" of companies liable to use trigger words in a non-worrying way.

The Guardian - Opinion

No senior figure has been held criminally liable or has even been disqualified for the practices that helped to trigger the financial crisis, partly because the laws that should have restrained them were slashed by successive governments.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thus, the c2/c2 genotypes may be more liable to metabolically activate mutagens and carcinogens.

BMC Cancer

Only the pollen of closely related species was liable to become submerged and trigger PD withdrawal.

BMC Plant Biology

Colorado representative Joe Salazar, a Democrat, is the man behind the bill to make oil and gas companies strictly liable if they trigger any earthquakes around fracking and related disposal facilities.

The Guardian

"You're liable to kill somebody".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "liable to trigger", ensure the subject is something with a high probability of causing the effect you describe. This adds credibility and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "liable to trigger" when the outcome is merely possible, not probable. Overstating certainty can undermine the accuracy and reliability of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "liable to trigger" functions as a verb phrase that indicates a high probability or tendency for something to initiate or cause a specific reaction, event, or process. Ludwig confirms the correct usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "liable to trigger" is a verb phrase used to express a high probability of something initiating a specific reaction or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for both news/media and scientific contexts. Remember to use it when the subject has a strong likelihood of causing the described effect, and avoid overstating certainty. Alternatives include "likely to initiate", "apt to provoke", and "prone to generate". The phrase, while infrequent, appears in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New Yorker.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely to initiate

This alternative focuses on the commencement aspect of the action.

apt to provoke

This focuses on the causative nature and the potential reaction.

prone to generate

Highlights the tendency to create or produce the effect.

inclined to cause

Emphasizes the predisposition toward bringing about a specific outcome.

predisposed to activate

Indicates a prior condition that makes something more likely to start.

subject to induce

This suggests that something is under the influence of causing an effect.

susceptible to setting off

Highlights the vulnerability to being the starting point of a reaction.

disposed to spark

This indicates a natural tendency to ignite or start an action.

bound to instigate

Emphasizes the certainty and initiation of a consequence.

expected to elicit

Focuses on anticipation and the drawing out of a response.

FAQs

How can I use "liable to trigger" in a sentence?

Use "liable to trigger" to indicate that something has a high probability of causing a specific reaction or event. For example, "Certain types of content are liable to trigger strong emotional responses".

What are some alternatives to "liable to trigger"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to initiate", "apt to provoke", or "prone to generate" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "susceptible to trigger" instead of "liable to trigger"?

While "susceptible to" implies vulnerability, "liable to trigger" suggests a higher probability of causing an event. So, using "susceptible to trigger" might be suitable if emphasizing vulnerability, while "liable to trigger" emphasizes probability.

What's the difference between "liable to cause" and "liable to trigger"?

"Liable to cause" is a general term indicating the potential for something to bring about an effect. "Liable to trigger", on the other hand, specifies that something is likely to initiate a reaction or event. The nuance lies in the action of initiating or triggering.