preposterous idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preposterous idea" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an idea that is absurd or ridiculous, often in a context where one is expressing disbelief or criticism. Example: "The proposal to build a theme park on the moon is a preposterous idea that no one should take seriously."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

A preposterous idea?

The Guardian - Sport

That's a preposterous idea.

The New Yorker

It was a preposterous idea.

The New York Times

That would have been a preposterous idea 20 years ago.

The Guardian - Sport

And then there's the preposterous idea that "viral videos" should be a concern at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was a preposterous idea that, playing along with a twinkle, he did nothing to disabuse.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

The issue was preposterous ideas that in some cases threatened the privacy of the American people".

The New York Times

One of the most preposterous ideas floating about is that the world's poor feel "entitled" to assistance.

The New York Times

Without hare-brained, impetuous plans and preposterous ideas to add some va-va-voom to our waking hours, we would all proceed in a pre-ordained, predictable fashion – in fact, our lives probably wouldn't be worth living at all.

Independent

(One supply-side guru compared Slobodan Milosevic to Abraham Lincoln. Another said that American upper-class women "are averse to science and technology and baffled by it"). While their other preposterous ideas went nowhere, the equally preposterous notion of supply-side economics took the political system by storm.

The New York Times - Books

The campers in Cottage Grove spent half their time agonizing over cultural sensitivity ("We're highly dominated by elderly white engineering types," a stovemaker who'd worked in Uganda told me. "So you get a lot of preposterous ideas that'll never fly in the kitchen") and the other half grousing about "design drift".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "preposterous idea" when you want to strongly convey that something is not only wrong, but also ridiculous or absurd. It adds a layer of dismissiveness to your critique.

Common error

While "preposterous idea" is widely understood, it can sound overly dismissive or informal in certain professional or academic settings. Consider substituting it with more neutral terms like "untenable argument" or "implausible theory" in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

Preposterous idea functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It characterizes a concept as absurd or ridiculous. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correct usage, often expressing strong disagreement or disbelief.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preposterous idea" effectively conveys the absurdity or ridiculousness of a concept, making it a useful tool for expressing strong disagreement or disbelief. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in News & Media. While generally acceptable, it's important to consider the formality of the context, opting for more neutral alternatives like "untenable argument" or "implausible theory" in academic or professional settings. To avoid overusing it, diversify your language with similar phrases such as "absurd notion" or "ridiculous concept".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absurd notion

Replaces "idea" with "notion", implying a similarly unreasonable concept.

ridiculous concept

Substitutes "preposterous" with "ridiculous" and "idea" with "concept", maintaining the sense of absurdity.

ludicrous proposition

Uses "ludicrous" instead of "preposterous" and "proposition" instead of "idea", indicating something laughable or absurd.

outlandish suggestion

Replaces "preposterous" with "outlandish" and "idea" with "suggestion", denoting something bizarre or unconventional.

far-fetched scheme

Uses "far-fetched" instead of "preposterous" and "scheme" instead of "idea", suggesting a plan that is unlikely to succeed.

untenable argument

Replaces "preposterous" with "untenable" and "idea" with "argument", implying that the idea cannot be defended.

implausible theory

Substitutes "preposterous" with "implausible" and "idea" with "theory", indicating a lack of credibility.

foolish assumption

Uses "foolish" instead of "preposterous" and "assumption" instead of "idea", suggesting a lack of wisdom.

inane thought

Replaces "preposterous" with "inane" and "idea" with "thought", denoting something silly or meaningless.

absurdity

A more concise way of expressing the same sentiment, focusing on the quality of being ridiculous.

FAQs

How can I use "preposterous idea" in a sentence?

You can use "preposterous idea" to describe a concept that you find utterly ridiculous or absurd. For example, "The suggestion that we should all work for free is a "preposterous idea"."

What are some synonyms for "preposterous idea"?

Alternatives to "preposterous idea" include "absurd notion", "ridiculous concept", or "ludicrous proposition", all of which convey a similar sense of disbelief and ridicule.

Is it appropriate to use "preposterous idea" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "preposterous idea" can sometimes be perceived as too informal or dismissive for academic or professional contexts. In such cases, consider using alternatives like "untenable argument" or "implausible theory".

What's the difference between "preposterous idea" and "bad idea"?

"Bad idea" simply means something is not advisable. "Preposterous idea" suggests something is not only unwise but also completely absurd and worthy of ridicule. The former is a milder critique than the latter.