outlandish move

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outlandish move" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or decision that is bizarre, unconventional, or surprising. Example: "The CEO's outlandish move to change the company's entire branding overnight left everyone in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In an outlandish move, Mastro sought to cast doubt on the entire Ecuadoran judicial system and managed to obtain an injunction in New York federal court to block enforcement of any judgment throughout the entire world.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We have the sense that, no matter what outlandish moves the artist makes, he will not fail to be direct and honest with us.

The New Yorker

What follows is a summary of the more outlandish moves.

Forbes

An avid gamer, Hawk insisted on creative input and met with the developers weekly, tweaking the combinations of aerial stunts while ruling out outlandish moves and rejecting some backdrops as too cornball, like one of an Egyptian pyramid.

Forbes

Today's various machine learning systems can already provide unexpected insights in varying fields, from personalization technologies to particle physics, from cooking recipes and outlandish game moves to crime prevention and bioengineering.

TechCrunch

Up and coming NYC-based rapper and producer LE1F is not afraid to bust out his orange fur coat, ying yang signs and outlandish dance moves.

Vice

This is a matter of established fact--one that is sad, given the reality that we live not only in a multicultural society but, also, a society of immigrant laborers: Patels and Nguyens, Aslams and Hernandez's--these are just a few of those outlandish names that move beyond the narrow scope of the watermelon world that this self-loathing one-time actress had in her cross-hairs.

Huffington Post

Stepanek made the first move, going for outlandish winners from the baseline and picking volleys off his shoes.

Huffington Post

While he hasn't quite moved beyond the outlandish rock-star persona, Mr. Snider, 48, is very much the suburban dad.

The New York Times

It provides the kind of guilty-pleasure thrills that all sci-fi does -- the kind of "I should know better" acquiescence to the outlandish, in the name of moving the story forward.

Huffington Post

While Obama has done an admirable job ignoring the Tea Party outbursts and outlandish claims and focusing on moving his agenda forward, Maddow, Matthews, Olbermann, Colbert, Stewart, Cooper, Crowley, Sanchez and Shultz have missed an incredible opportunity to vocalize the progressive agenda while they have the floor.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outlandish move" to describe actions that are not only unusual but also border on the bizarre or outrageous. Ensure the context supports this level of extremity.

Common error

Avoid using "outlandish move" for actions that are simply innovative or slightly unusual. Reserve it for situations where the action is genuinely shocking or absurd.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outlandish move" functions as a noun phrase, where "outlandish" modifies the noun "move". It describes a particular type of action or decision, emphasizing its unconventional and often surprising nature. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outlandish move" is a phrase used to describe a particularly unusual or bizarre action. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and understandable. However, with limited number of examples, it's use is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts to highlight surprising or unconventional decisions. When using this phrase, be mindful of the strong connotation of "outlandish," ensuring it accurately reflects the degree of unusualness. Consider alternatives like "bizarre action" or "unconventional step" if a less dramatic tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bizarre action

Focuses on the strangeness or peculiarity of the action.

unconventional step

Highlights the departure from standard practices.

eccentric maneuver

Suggests a quirky or unusual approach.

unorthodox tactic

Emphasizes the deviation from typical strategies.

strange decision

Focuses on the odd or peculiar nature of the choice made.

peculiar act

Highlights the unusual or singular nature of the deed.

unprecedented measure

Stresses that the action is novel and without prior example.

radical shift

Implies a significant and dramatic change in direction.

bold gambit

Suggests a risky and daring action taken with the hope of a major payoff.

surprising initiative

Highlights the unexpected nature of the action taken.

FAQs

How can I use "outlandish move" in a sentence?

You can use "outlandish move" to describe a surprising or unconventional action, such as: "The CEO's "outlandish move" to acquire the smaller company raised eyebrows."

What can I say instead of "outlandish move"?

Alternatives include "bizarre action", "unconventional step", or "eccentric maneuver", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "outlandish move" a formal or informal expression?

"Outlandish move" leans towards the neutral side, but is more appropriate for describing events in journalism or less formal settings, you might use "unprecedented measure" for something more formal.

When is it appropriate to use "outlandish move"?

It's best used when the action is not just unusual but also somewhat shocking or absurd. If the action is merely innovative, other phrases might be more suitable.