outstanding budget

USAGE SUMMARY

"outstanding budget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to a budget that is either exceeding expectations or is being paid off in installments. For example, "The company was able to pay off its outstanding budget ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Here's what she wrote: Since we submitted our memo on December 8, several outstanding budget and policy issues are now resolved, giving us greater clarity about the scale and scope of the policy options for SOTU.

The New Yorker

If the tentative agreement holds up, it could lead to a swift resolution of several other outstanding budget issues and final congressional approval of two pieces of legislation needed to implement the Nov. 20 budget accord between Congress and the White House.

The Washington Post

They want governments to settle outstanding budget bills, to avoid the risk of a shortfall.

BBC

The paper follows intense discussions between the first and deputy first ministers on how to deal with tens of millions of pounds of outstanding budget pressures.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Officials revealed the cost of the freedom-of-information battle and declared the government's intention to press ahead with deregulation in newly tabled answers to outstanding questions from budget estimates committee hearings.

The Guardian

The Northern Ireland parties are trying to resolve outstanding issues, including budgets, welfare reform, and the legacy of the Troubles.

BBC

Miliband described Brown's record over the 2007-08 financrisisrisis as "outstanding" and blamed the budget deficit on a worldwide financial meltdown.

The Guardian

Deputy Mayor Marc V. Shaw said last evening that the debate over recycling was "the single biggest outstanding issue" in the budget negotiations.

The New York Times

Last year, its outstanding orders went over budget by £3.1 billion, even as they slipped an average 18 months behind schedule.These failings are neither new nor markedly worse than in other rich countries.

The Economist

Another outstanding matter is ExoMars' budget.

BBC

No member state has outstanding debts to the EU budget," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific terms like "budget surplus" or "budget deficit" for clarity, depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "outstanding budget" always refers to positive performance. It can also indicate unresolved debts or financial obligations. Always provide enough context to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding budget" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "outstanding" modifies the noun "budget". It describes a budget possessing notable qualities, either positive (exceptional performance) or negative (unresolved obligations), as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science & Research

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outstanding budget" is grammatically correct and generally usable in written English. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase can be ambiguous, referring either to exceptional budgetary performance or, more commonly, to unresolved financial obligations. The analysis reveals that this phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the context to prevent misinterpretations and consider using more specific terms like "budget surplus" or "unpaid budget" for improved clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkable budget

Emphasizes the noteworthy or exceptional nature of the budget.

terrific budget

Highlights the excellent or impressive quality of the budget.

excellent budget

Focuses on the superior quality or effectiveness of the budget.

unpaid budget

Indicates that there are still payments due on the budget.

unresolved budget

Suggests that there are still issues or decisions to be made regarding the budget.

budget deficit

Specifies that the budget has a shortfall.

budget shortfall

Highlights the lack of funds in the budget.

budget surplus

Highlights the excess of funds in the budget.

pending budget

Indicates that the budget is awaiting approval or action.

incomplete budget

Emphasizes that the budget is not yet finalized or comprehensive.

FAQs

What does "outstanding budget" mean?

The term "outstanding budget" can refer to two different situations: a budget that is performing exceptionally well or a budget that has debts or issues that are still "unresolved".

How can I use "outstanding budget" in a sentence?

You can say, "The company managed to pay off its "outstanding budget" ahead of schedule" to indicate a debt was cleared, or "The project was completed with an "outstanding budget" performance" to highlight excellent financial management.

What is a good alternative to "outstanding budget" when referring to debt?

If you mean debts that need to be paid you could use phrases like "unpaid budget" or "remaining budget balance".

Is "outstanding budget" the same as "budget surplus"?

No, "budget surplus" refers to a situation where income exceeds expenses, while "outstanding budget" can refer to unresolved debt or, less commonly, to exceptional financial performance.