reduce expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduce expectations" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to lower or decrease one's expectations. It can be used when someone has very high or unrealistic expectations and needs to be reminded to manage their expectations. Example: "I know you're excited about the movie, but try to reduce your expectations. That way, you won't be disappointed if it doesn't meet your high expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

While seeking to reduce expectations — Summit insists it expects no more than $30 million in sales this weekend, despite what other forecasters say — the company has worked to woo men by advertising the action in the movie.

The New York Times

Purchases can have a fiscal effect; by lowering expected government borrowing costs QE may reduce expectations of future taxation, encouraging more work and investment in the present.Empirical assessments focus overwhelmingly on a third channel: portfolio rebalancing.

The Economist

Mr. Bradley tried to reduce expectations about how he would do on Tuesday.

The New York Times

It is in the interest of Mrs. Clinton's advisers to reduce expectations for their candidate.

The New York Times

Or a way to reduce expectations about the software giant's big investment?

The Washington Post

The struggle to reduce expectations has gotten a little out of hand this year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Some restaurants remain open only on the weekends during the winter with a reduced staff and reduced expectations.

The New York Times

Zynga blamed its lowered outlook on delays in launching new games, a faster-than-expected decline in existing games and "reduced expectations for Draw Something".

BBC

The impetus for further bond market losses this week was additional stronger-than-expected economic data in Europe and the United States, which reduced expectations for further monetary policy accommodation.

HuffPost

" Ramesh also had reduced expectations for Copenhagen.

The Guardian

Reducing expectations — and even contemplating losses — has become routine for sellers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When communicating potential outcomes, proactively "reduce expectations" to avoid future disappointment. This is especially useful in project management or forecasting scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using overly vague phrases when attempting to "reduce expectations". Be specific about the potential limitations or challenges to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce expectations" functions as a verb phrase where "reduce" is a transitive verb and "expectations" is its direct object. It indicates the action of lowering or lessening the anticipated outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce expectations" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey the act of lowering anticipated outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is valid and widely used. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals its prevalence in contexts such as news, business, and science, indicating its versatility. Related phrases include "lower expectations", "temper expectations", and "manage expectations". When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to provide specific details rather than relying on vague language to prevent misunderstandings. The phrase serves to manage potential disappointment by aligning perceptions with reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower expectations

This alternative is a direct synonym, using a different verb with the same meaning.

temper expectations

This alternative suggests moderating or restraining expectations to a more reasonable level.

manage expectations

This alternative focuses on controlling and influencing expectations to align with reality.

curtail expectations

This alternative implies a more forceful or abrupt reduction in expectations.

scale down expectations

This alternative suggests a gradual and proportional decrease in expectations.

diminish expectations

This alternative focuses on gradually lessening or weakening expectations.

deflate expectations

This alternative conveys the idea of suddenly and drastically lowering expectations.

moderate outlook

This alternative shifts the focus to adjusting the predicted outcome to be less extreme.

readjust forecast

This alternative suggests changing a prediction based on new information or circumstances.

revise estimates downward

This alternative specifically refers to lowering numerical predictions or assessments.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce expectations" when you want to convey that anticipated outcomes should be lowered or made more realistic. For instance, "The company decided to "reduce expectations" for the quarter due to unforeseen market volatility".

What is the difference between "manage expectations" and "reduce expectations"?

"Manage expectations" implies controlling and influencing what people believe will happen, whereas "reduce expectations" simply means lowering the anticipated outcome, often in response to new information or challenges.

What are some synonyms for "reduce expectations"?

Some synonyms for "reduce expectations" include "lower expectations", "temper expectations", or "scale down expectations", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to "reduce expectations"?

It's appropriate to "reduce expectations" when facing potential setbacks, when initial projections are unrealistic, or when new information suggests a less favorable outcome is likely.