provoke a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"provoke a delay" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to cause or incite a delay, often through intentional actions or behaviors. Example: The opposition party's constant challenges and objections during the debate provoked a delay in the passing of the bill.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Based on these results, one plausible explanation for the phenotypic differences between the two strains and the other strains (low virulence and slow lifecycle) is likely to be the lack of activities of such effectors or digestive proteases, which could lead them to display low ingestion of nutrients and provoke a delay in development.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The lmaA gene product has been shown to provoke a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction in mice immune to L. monocytogenes.

BMC Genomics

T lymphocyte phenotype data show in nonsurviving patients a slower migration of naive and effector cells that might provoke a delayed immune response.

Critical Care

T lymphocyte phenotype data show a time difference in the recirculation of T cells between survivors and nonsurvivors that might provoke a delayed tissue response of the immune system.

Critical Care

Infection provoked a delay in the general development of neonates, clinical signs compatible with neosporosis and severe histopathological lesions.

Veterinary Parasitology

Its overexpression leads to accelerated senescence, while its knockout provokes a delay in this process (Miao et al. 2004).

AoB PLANTS

Following the HS-protocol, even short duration temperature pulses, such as those used in this study, provoked a transitory delay in pupal development as compared with control pupae maintained at 25°C.

Plosone

The E2 stereoisomer (17α-estradiol) provoked a slightly delayed and blunted response also, but with some other interesting features (Fig. 11d).

Breast Cancer Research

A "classic" conduction disturbance with a LBBB-sequence induces an abnormal and delayed right-to-left transseptal activation and pressure gradient ("interventricular dyssynchrony") and provokes an additional delay in the onset of force development in the posterolateral LV wall compared to the relatively early activated septum ("intraventricular dyssynchrony").

Heart Failure Reviews

Delay at this point could provoke a larger confrontation in June, when the institution must settle its annual budget.

The New York Times

Although Scipio, a veteran officer, advocated delaying engagement until winter had passed, Hannibal knew that he needed only wait until Sempronius had assumed command to provoke a confrontation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provoke a delay", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or event is causing the delay. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

While "provoke a delay" is acceptable, overuse in formal documents can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "cause a postponement" or "induce a hold-up" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke a delay" functions as a causal connector, indicating that something instigates or leads to a postponement. As Ludwig AI highlights, it correctly expresses the act of causing a delay.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provoke a delay" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes the act of causing a delay. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and functions as a causal connector. It appears in various contexts, including science, news, encyclopedias, and general writing, with a neutral to professional register. While suitable for various writing styles, consider synonyms like "cause a postponement" or "induce a hold-up" for stylistic variation, especially in formal writing. Though not as frequent as other similar phrases, "provoke a delay" effectively communicates the instigation of a delay due to a specific event or action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause a postponement

Replaces "provoke" with "cause" and "delay" with "postponement", altering word choice but maintaining the core meaning.

induce a hold-up

Substitutes "provoke" with "induce" and "delay" with "hold-up", offering a slightly more informal tone.

trigger a standstill

Replaces "provoke" with "trigger" and "delay" with "standstill", emphasizing a complete cessation of progress.

generate a waiting period

Rephrases the entire expression to focus on the creation of a period of waiting, changing the sentence structure.

instigate a slowdown

Replaces "provoke" with "instigate" and "delay" with "slowdown", suggesting a reduction in speed rather than a complete stop.

foment a deferment

Uses more formal vocabulary, substituting "provoke" with "foment" and "delay" with "deferment".

precipitate a moratorium

Replaces "provoke" with "precipitate" and "delay" with "moratorium", indicating a more formal or official suspension.

engender a lag

Substitutes "provoke" with "engender" and "delay" with "lag", emphasizing a gap in time or progress.

initiate a setback

Replaces "provoke" with "initiate" and "delay" with "setback", implying a hindrance to progress.

cause a respite

This phrase suggests a temporary suspension or break, altering the specific meaning from a negative delay to a more neutral pause.

FAQs

How can I use "provoke a delay" in a sentence?

You can use "provoke a delay" to describe situations where an action or event causes something to be postponed or slowed down. For example: "The unexpected protest /s/provoked+a+delay in the construction project".

What are some alternatives to "provoke a delay"?

Alternatives to "provoke a delay" include phrases like "cause a postponement", "induce a hold-up", or "trigger a standstill".

Is "provoke a delay" formal or informal?

"Provoke a delay" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but its impact can be enhanced by considering synonyms like "foment a deferment" in highly formal writing to diversify vocabulary.

What's the difference between "provoke a delay" and "cause a delay"?

While "provoke a delay" and "cause a delay" are similar, "provoke" implies a more intentional or reactive instigation of the delay. "Cause" is a more general term.