looked in position to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looked in position to" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when describing someone or something that appears ready or prepared to take action or achieve a goal. Example: "The team looked in position to win the championship after their recent victories."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Dechy looked in position to take the lead with Ivanovic serving at 5-5, when she moved forward for a high backhand volley at 15-15.

The New York Times - Sports

Karius, a former Mainz goalkeeper, looked in position to start the Premier League opener at Arsenal before breaking his hand in the pre-season defeat by Chelsea.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Even if there's some slowing in the PC market, Intel looks in position to make its numbers.

Forbes

Their last five wickets only added 10 runs in their first innings when they looked in a position to bat Warwickshire out of the match.

BBC

But Hoff looked in prime position to upgrade her bronze medal to a gold when she built a 1.08-second lead heading into the final lap of the 400 free.

The New York Times - Sports

Nastasic looked in prime position to clear Willian's speculative long ball but Hart's dash from goal appeared to panic the 20-year-old Serb, who headed the ball beyond his keeper and Torres won the race to turn the ball home.

BBC

It looked a highly debatable call as Haimona looked in no position to make a tackle on Humphreys as he was barged into by Bowe.

BBC

With the Americans leading, 4-3, in the seventh end, or inning, Sweden looked to be in position to tie when Somerville used an angle shot to knock one stone into the Swedish stone and push them out of scoring position.

The New York Times - Sports

Am I going to take him out now?" After feeling as if they'd given Game 1 away, the Spurs looked to be in position to sneak away with this one early.

The New York Times - Sports

At the end of the first quarter, UConn held a 7 3 lead and looked to be in position to score more when the second quarter began.

Wikipedia

Down 2-1 in the series against a Pacers team that was finally starting to look like the team who secured the best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, the Wizards looked like they were in position to tie up the series after building up a 16 point lead at halftime.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "seemed poised to" or "appeared likely to" for increased precision and impact, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid relying on "looked in position to" in formal or academic writing. This phrase can sound vague. Instead, opt for more precise language that specifies the readiness or probability of the subject, such as "was poised to", "was on the verge of", or "appeared ready to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looked in position to" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating an apparent state of readiness or likelihood. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is acceptable but not always the most precise choice. It suggests a perception or observation rather than a confirmed state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looked in position to" is used to describe a situation where someone or something appears ready or likely to achieve a goal. Ludwig AI deems it acceptable but advises considering more precise alternatives for formal contexts. Its primary function is descriptive, conveying an observation rather than a definitive statement. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, indicating a neutral register. When writing, aim for clearer and stronger alternatives like "seemed poised to" or "appeared likely to" to enhance precision. The

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appeared likely to

Replaces "looked" with "appeared" and "in position" with "likely", focusing on the impression of probability.

seemed poised to

Uses "seemed" instead of "looked" and "poised" to suggest readiness or balance before an action.

appeared ready to

Emphasizes the state of being prepared, using "ready" instead of the more nuanced "in position".

looked set to

A more concise alternative, implying a high probability or arrangement for a specific outcome.

seemed destined to

Suggests that the outcome is predetermined or inevitable, adding a sense of fate or certainty.

gave the impression of being about to

A more descriptive and elaborate way of expressing that something appeared imminent.

showed signs of readiness to

Focuses on the visible indications of preparation or intent.

projected an image of being ready to

Highlights the outward appearance or impression conveyed, rather than the actual state.

gave every indication of being about to

Similar to 'gave the impression,' but emphasizes the strength and clarity of the signs.

appeared to be on the verge of

Indicates nearing a specific event or state, implying an impending transition.

FAQs

What does "looked in position to" mean?

The phrase "looked in position to" suggests that someone or something appeared ready or likely to do something or achieve a specific outcome. It implies an observation about their apparent state of preparedness.

What can I say instead of "looked in position to"?

You can use alternatives like "seemed poised to", "appeared likely to", or "looked set to" depending on the context.

Is "looked in position to" formal or informal?

"Looked in position to" is generally considered neutral but leaning towards informal. More formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing. Consider "appeared ready to" for a slightly more formal tone.

How do I use "looked in position to" in a sentence?

Use "looked in position to" to describe a situation where someone or something seemed prepared or ready to take a specific action. For example, "The company looked in position to announce record profits this quarter".