making a bid

USAGE SUMMARY

"making a bid" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to auctions, negotiations, or offers. Example: "She is making a bid for the antique vase." Alternative expressions include "placing a bid" and "submitting a bid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But Suez denied making a bid approach.

The Guardian - Business

But one star is making a bid for glory.

Independent

The deadline for making a bid is Tuesday.

The New York Times - Sports

Sony has made efforts toward making a bid.

The New York Times

However, Suez later denied making a bid approach to BE.

The Guardian - Business

They bought and sold other restaurants before making a bid in 1987 for the Tick Tock.

The New York Times

SI.com's Peter King believes the Packers are making a bid as the league's best team.

The New York Times - Sports

FriendFinder Networks, owner of Penthouse magazine, said it was interested in making a bid for Playboy.

The New York Times

He indicated that he was leaning against making a bid of his own.

The New York Times

Newcastle's little-known, but hugely valuable, photography collective is making a bid for broader recognition.

Independent

He chose the Olympics because Tokyo was making a bid to host the Summer Games.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "making a bid", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being bid for. Be specific about the object, contract, or opportunity being pursued to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "making a bid" is widely acceptable, avoid overusing it in informal conversation. Simpler alternatives like "offering" or "trying" might be more appropriate in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "making a bid" is that of a gerund phrase, functioning as a noun. It frequently appears as the subject or object of a verb, describing the act of offering a proposal or competing for something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "making a bid" functions as a gerund phrase typically describing the action of offering something in an attempt to acquire something else. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and predominantly used in neutral to professional contexts, especially within news and media and formal business settings. While frequent in these domains, it's advisable to consider simpler alternatives like "offering" or "trying" in informal conversations. Common usage involves describing the act of formally offering something, with clear context about the object or goal to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig examples helps understand the multiple usages of the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

submitting an offer

Focuses on the act of formally presenting a proposition.

placing a tender

Similar to "making a bid", often used in formal or business contexts, especially for contracts.

putting forward a proposal

Emphasizes the act of suggesting a plan or idea for consideration.

lodging a claim

Implies a formal request or assertion of a right, different from a general offer.

presenting a case

Focuses on arguing in favor of something, potentially for a competitive process.

seeking to acquire

Highlights the intention behind the bid, focusing on the desired outcome.

attempting to secure

Emphasizes the effort and potential uncertainty involved in winning a bid.

aiming to win

Focuses on the desired result of the bidding process.

competing for

Highlights the competitive aspect of the process, emphasizing the presence of other contenders.

expressing interest in

Indicates a preliminary stage before a formal bid, showing a potential intention to participate.

FAQs

How can I use "making a bid" in a sentence?

You can use "making a bid" to describe someone offering to pay a certain amount for something, such as "The company is making a bid for the property" or describing an attempt to win something, as in "The athlete is making a bid for the gold medal".

What can I say instead of "making a bid"?

You can use alternatives like "submitting an offer", "placing a tender", or "putting forward a proposal" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "making a bid" or "to make a bid"?

Both "making a bid" and "to make a bid" are grammatically correct, but they function differently. "Making a bid" is a gerund phrase (acting as a noun), while "to make a bid" is an infinitive phrase (often used to express purpose).

What's the difference between "making a bid" and "placing a bid"?

While similar, "making a bid" is a more general term. "Placing a bid" is more formal and often used in the context of auctions or tenders where a specific amount is formally offered.