outstanding move

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outstanding move" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a particularly impressive or effective action taken in a situation, often in a strategic or competitive context. Example: "The team's outstanding move in the final minutes of the game secured their victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

His hat-trick should have arrived in the 64th minute after the outstanding move of the night and to give Rooney his due, there was an exquisite flick to set up his new team-mate.

The Guardian - Sport

All the same, the outstanding move of the night was constructed by the players wearing England shirts and, without exaggeration, it is difficult to recall the last time this team put together such a brilliantly penetrative exchange of passes, classy in its creation and clinical in its execution.

The Guardian - Sport

The outstanding move of the game took Saints ahead for the first time since the opening minute.

BBC

"It was an outstanding move," he said, adding that it could significantly help him win votes in this first-in-the-South primary.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These are outstanding moves.

The New York Times

He then made two outstanding moves to score layups at the beginning of the period.

The New York Times - Sports

Some states will also check for outstanding moving violations or parking tickets involving your car before allowing you to renew your license plates.

WikiHow

So did Herbert Hoover in 1929 while the Federal Reserve Board tightened credit to protect the dollar and raised interest rates when margin credit outstandings moved off the charts on the up side.

Forbes

Specifically, Valentine said, he was disappointed in himself for not reiterating before Game 5 that Andy Pettitte, the Yankees starter, would use his outstanding pickoff move when he gets in trouble.

The New York Times - Sports

Companies that buy back shares reduce the amount of stock they have outstanding, a move that can have the effect of increasing earnings per share and the stakes of existing shareholders.

The New York Times

Dwr Cymru customer services managing director Julia Cherrett said it has about 6,000 properties a year where tenants with an outstanding debt move on without giving a forwarding address.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outstanding move" to positively highlight a strategic or skillful action that leads to a favorable outcome. Ensure the context clearly supports the assessment of the action as exceptional.

Common error

Avoid using "outstanding move" too frequently, as it can dilute its impact. Reserve it for situations where the action genuinely stands out.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding move" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "outstanding" modifies the noun "move". It typically describes a specific action, decision, or maneuver that is particularly impressive, effective, or skillful. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding move" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, though relatively uncommon. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It functions to positively describe a strategic or skillful action. Its primary contexts are News & Media and Academia. Related phrases include "excellent maneuver" and "remarkable action". When using the phrase, ensure the context supports its positive connotation and avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excellent maneuver

Replaces "move" with "maneuver", suggesting a skillful or strategic action.

remarkable action

Substitutes both words with synonyms emphasizing the noteworthiness of the deed.

exceptional play

Emphasizes the context of a game or competition.

brilliant strategy

Highlights the planning and intelligence behind the action.

impressive tactic

Focuses on a specific method used to achieve a goal.

superb decision

Highlights the judgment involved in selecting a course of action.

noteworthy step

Focuses on the progress made by the action.

admirable deed

Emphasizes the praiseworthy nature of the action.

sterling performance

Highlights the high quality execution of the action.

masterful stroke

Suggests a high degree of skill and control.

FAQs

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

You can use "outstanding move" to describe a particularly impressive action taken in a strategic or competitive context. For example, "The team's "outstanding move" in the final minutes of the game secured their victory."

What are some alternatives to "outstanding move"?

Alternatives include phrases like "excellent maneuver", "remarkable action", or "exceptional play", depending on the specific context.

Is "outstanding move" formal or informal?

"Outstanding move" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is generally more common in news and sports reporting than in highly formal academic writing.

When is it appropriate to use "outstanding move"?

Use "outstanding move" when you want to emphasize the exceptional quality and effectiveness of a particular action or decision.