raise a scandal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "raise a scandal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of causing or provoking a public controversy or uproar. Example: "The politician's controversial remarks were enough to raise a scandal that dominated the news cycle for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The objective is to break the roots of power built around corruption, not to attack a political group or raise a scandal," he said in an interview.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Nemesis of Faith raised a scandal at its first release, being referred to as "a manual of infidelity" in the Morning Herald.

Wikipedia

But it also featured a number of cases where the media raised a potential scandal and then left it unresolved — from The New York Times's report about John McCain's complicated relationship with a female lobbyist, to the Vanity Fair profile of Bill Clinton that implicitly accused him of philandering without coming out and saying it.

The New York Times

The latest fake-memoir scandal raised a question: Why not simply convert the purported autobiographical material into fiction?

The New York Times

From what I could tell, he had managed it admirably, raised a nice family, avoided scandal and embarrassment and seemed genuinely committed now to "making a contribution".

The New York Times - Magazine

Jean's baby hadn't been stolen or snatched or forcibly removed: she had elected to hand him over to the Foundling Hospital, to avoid the scandal of raising a child born outside of marriage.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This scandal has raised a lot of questions, but there's one question that it has put to rest--why Te'o performance was as lackluster as it was in the national championship game against Alabama.

Huffington Post

Raised a Catholic, the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church greatly influenced Stanhaus' writing, again with personal experiences of friends motivating her to "bring hope and healing from the Divine Feminine for those who suffer in silence".

Huffington Post

Those payments, which amount to $650 million to $700 million a year, were halted after the International Monetary Fund raised questions about a scandal surrounding Kabul Bank, one of the country's largest financial institutions.

The New York Times

Mr. Gabrielli, a Brazilian jazz singer who settled in Paris 11 years ago and calls Notre-Dame "my cathedral," has led a Web crusade to denounce what he called "a major scandal," raising an alarm about the destruction of the current bells in songs and videos posted on YouTube.

The New York Times

Queer As Folk arguably marked a watershed, raising the scandal bar to the level where now a gay kiss in a soapevinces half-hearted tabloid finger-pointing and no more.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "raise a scandal" when you want to emphasize the action of bringing a controversial issue into public attention, often leading to widespread discussion and potential repercussions.

Common error

Avoid using "raise a scandal" for minor disagreements or controversies that do not significantly impact public opinion or involve serious ethical breaches. Consider using softer terms like "spark debate" or "cause concern" for less severe situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raise a scandal" functions as a verb phrase where "raise" is the verb and "a scandal" is the object. It describes the action of causing or initiating a public controversy.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "raise a scandal" is a common expression used to describe the act of causing or initiating a public controversy. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media contexts. While synonyms like "spark a scandal" or "trigger a scandal" offer alternative ways to express the same idea, "raise a scandal" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, provided the context warrants the gravity of a significant public controversy. The frequency analysis indicates that while prevalent in news, its use in scientific or formal business settings is less common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a scandal

Emphasizes the sudden and immediate beginning of a scandal.

ignite a scandal

Suggests a more intense and fiery beginning of a scandal.

trigger a scandal

Highlights a specific event that causes the scandal to start.

provoke a scandal

Focuses on the deliberate act of causing a scandal.

generate a scandal

Indicates the creation of a scandal, often unintentionally.

create a scandal

Similar to generate, but implies a more active role in the scandal's formation.

stir up a scandal

Suggests that a scandal was dormant and has been reawakened.

whip up a scandal

Emphasizes the rapid and intense creation of a scandal.

unleash a scandal

Highlights the uncontrolled release of a scandal.

precipitate a scandal

Indicates that the scandal was an almost inevitable outcome of certain events.

FAQs

What does it mean to "raise a scandal"?

To "raise a scandal" means to cause or provoke a public controversy or uproar, often involving accusations of wrongdoing or unethical behavior.

What are some synonyms for "raise a scandal"?

You can use alternatives like "spark a scandal", "ignite a scandal", or "trigger a scandal" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How is "raise a scandal" different from "address a scandal"?

"Raise a scandal" refers to initiating or causing a scandal, whereas "address a scandal" refers to dealing with or responding to a scandal that already exists.

Is it appropriate to use "raise a scandal" in formal writing?

Yes, "raise a scandal" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in news reports or analytical pieces where you need to describe how certain actions or events led to a public controversy.