private indulgence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "private indulgence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to personal pleasures or activities that one engages in for their own enjoyment, often in a discreet or personal manner. Example: "She often retreats to her garden for a moment of private indulgence, away from the stresses of daily life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

To do so is not merely a matter of desire, of professional obligation or private indulgence.

The New York Times - Travel

The photographs may have been a private indulgence, but they have a public, even ceremonial presence.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet this overpowering visage, clearly made for tyranny, displayed instead a gentle reticence, a beatific air of restraint that was clearly a choice, even a private indulgence.

The New Yorker

23) Francine Prose refers to a range of motivators as reasons why people triumph over flight-related anxiety, including desire, professional obligation and private indulgence and now, since Sept. 11, moral obligation.

The New York Times - Travel

The first heated pool in America was not a tycoon's private indulgence but rather a public spa: the Victoria Pool, built by New York State in 1935 at Saratoga Springs.

The New York Times

Koolhaas seems to have envisioned the Prada store overflowing with crowds, but the reality is that almost everything he designed looks better when the place is nearly empty and you can see it not as public space but, like so much architecture today, as a private indulgence.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The more publicly flamboyant of the two designers, Lagerfeld was far less adventurous when it came to private indulgences.

The New York Times - Books

Trump is not a man who has a philosophical problem with private indulgences, or with financial self-dealing.

The New Yorker

Those are our secret indulgences.

Huffington Post

The European Union and the European Central Bank and the I.M.F. have just advocated the confiscation of private property for their own indulgence".

The New York Times

Furthering the indulgence level are private butler service and a pier for soaking in the lake views.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure clarity, contextualize "private indulgence" with specific details about the activity or pleasure being described. This helps the reader understand the nature and extent of the indulgence.

Common error

Avoid using "private indulgence" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more neutral phrases like "personal enjoyment" or "individual interest" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "private indulgence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "private" modifies "indulgence". It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, denoting a specific type of pleasure or activity as seen in Ludwig AI examples. It serves to categorize and describe a personal enjoyment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "private indulgence" is a noun phrase used to describe a personal pleasure or activity, often with connotations of secrecy or self-gratification. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Although its frequency is uncommon, it appears in a wide array of contexts. When employing the phrase, consider the implied tone and choose it when you want to highlight the personal and possibly secretive nature of the enjoyment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal pleasure

Focuses on the enjoyment aspect, removing the implication of secrecy or permissiveness.

secret pleasure

Emphasizes the hidden or concealed nature of the indulgence.

discreet indulgence

Emphasizes the desire to keep the indulgence private and unnoticed.

personal luxury

Highlights the luxurious or extravagant nature of the indulgence.

private treat

Conveys the idea of a special and personal reward.

individual enjoyment

A more general term emphasizing personal satisfaction.

self-gratification

Focuses on the act of satisfying one's own desires.

inner satisfaction

Emphasizes the internal feeling of contentment.

personal vice

Suggests a negative or slightly immoral aspect to the indulgence.

solitary pursuit

Highlights the activity being done alone for personal enjoyment.

FAQs

What does "private indulgence" mean?

The term "private indulgence" refers to a pleasure or activity that someone enjoys in a personal and often discreet manner. It suggests a treat or pastime that is reserved for oneself.

What are some alternatives to "private indulgence"?

You can use alternatives like "personal pleasure", "secret pleasure", or "personal luxury" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "private indulgence" in a sentence?

You might say, "Reading a book in a quiet corner is her idea of a "private indulgence"" or "He considered collecting vintage records a harmless "private indulgence"".

Is "private indulgence" the same as "public indulgence"?

No, "private indulgence" is something enjoyed personally and often secretly, while "public indulgence" would refer to something enjoyed openly and possibly shared with others.