precarious effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precarious effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an attempt or endeavor that is unstable, uncertain, or risky in nature. Example: "The team's precarious effort to secure funding for the project left them feeling anxious about their future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

News broke that Tamerlan had explosives on his body, which turned the search for his brother into an even more urgent and precarious effort.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The guesswork under way over the damage Trump might wreak, from decimating what remains of the social safety net to trashing precarious efforts to curb global warming, is chilling.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fresh trouble on Tuesday underscored the precarious cleanup efforts.

The New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — Most of the additional American troops arriving in Afghanistan early next year will be deployed near the capital, Kabul, American military commanders here say, in a measure of how precarious the war effort has become.

The New York Times

This first potential storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season shows the precarious nature of the efforts to contain the oil from spreading throughout the gulf.

The New York Times

Popular support for the peace effort is now "precarious," Jorge Humberto Botero, head of the country's bank association, cautioned earlier this month.

The New York Times

Colombia's fragile peace effort seemed especially precarious today as the government faced fallout from violent events instigated by two rebel groups: a mass kidnapping last weekend, and the hijacking of a commercial airliner about two weeks ago, during which a police officer was killed.

The New York Times

Brands that embrace homeworking benefit from the expertise of these workers, while efforts to stabilise precarious working conditions benefit both the workers and the supply chain resilience.

The Guardian

The generation coming of age in the 2010s faces high unemployment and precarious job situations, hampering their efforts to build a future and raising the risk of social unrest.

The Guardian - Business

While Clinton maintains a slim nationwide advantage, and narrowly took the Iowa caucuses, Sanders's strong lead in New Hampshire and massive fundraising efforts have put her campaign in a precarious position.

Vice

The attack on Sunday underscored the simmering violence in Chechnya and the precarious state of the Kremlin's efforts to portray the second Chechen war, which began in 1999, as all but over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precarious effort" to describe situations where the outcome is uncertain and heavily dependent on specific conditions. For example, "Their "precarious effort" to contain the oil spill was threatened by an approaching storm."

Common error

Avoid using "precarious effort" when the situation is merely challenging but not genuinely risky. Reserve it for cases where failure could lead to significant negative consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precarious effort" functions as an adjective-noun construction, where 'precarious' modifies 'effort'. It highlights the unstable or risky nature of the endeavor. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase describes situations ranging from political peace efforts to attempts to contain environmental disasters.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "precarious effort" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing attempts or endeavors fraught with risk and uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various formal and neutral contexts, primarily in news and media. While "precarious effort" is not extremely common, its use effectively conveys the instability or fragility of a given undertaking. Alternatives such as "risky endeavor" or "uncertain undertaking" can be used to add variety to your writing. When employing this phrase, ensure the context genuinely involves significant risks to maintain accuracy and avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

risky endeavor

Replaces 'precarious' with 'risky' and 'effort' with 'endeavor', both implying potential danger or failure.

uncertain undertaking

Substitutes 'precarious' with 'uncertain' and 'effort' with 'undertaking', highlighting the unpredictable nature of the task.

tenuous attempt

Replaces 'precarious' with 'tenuous', emphasizing the fragility or weakness of the attempt.

hazardous venture

Uses 'hazardous' instead of 'precarious', focusing on the potential for harm, and 'venture' instead of 'effort'.

perilous undertaking

Similar to 'hazardous venture', but uses 'perilous' to underscore the danger involved in the undertaking.

fragile attempt

Replaces 'precarious' with 'fragile', indicating the delicate nature of the attempt and its susceptibility to failure.

unstable endeavor

Substitutes 'precarious' with 'unstable', focusing on the lack of firmness or reliability of the endeavor.

shaky undertaking

Replaces 'precarious' with 'shaky', implying a lack of solid foundation or support for the undertaking.

delicate operation

Uses 'delicate' to suggest the need for careful handling, and 'operation' as a more formal synonym for 'effort'.

sensitive initiative

Replaces 'precarious' with 'sensitive', highlighting the need for careful handling due to potential negative consequences, and 'initiative' instead of 'effort'.

FAQs

How can I use "precarious effort" in a sentence?

You can use "precarious effort" to describe an attempt that is unstable or risky. For example, "The success of the peace talks hinges on a "delicate negotiation" between the warring factions."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "precarious effort"?

Alternatives include "risky endeavor", "uncertain undertaking", or "tenuous attempt", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "precarious effort"?

Use "precarious effort" when describing a situation where the outcome is uncertain and there's a significant risk of failure or negative consequences. It's suitable when emphasizing the instability or fragility of an endeavor.

Is "precarious effort" formal or informal language?

The phrase "precarious effort" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, such as news reporting or business communications. However, it might sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.