reject advice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reject advice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of not accepting or following suggestions or recommendations given by others. Example: "Despite the warnings from his friends, he chose to reject their advice and pursue his own path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Successful after years of obscurity, he was now confident enough to reject advice.

The New Yorker

"If the Crown personally can reject advice, then, of course, the whole democratic facade turns out to be false".

Independent

Mr. Duisenberg has relished that independence, often going out of his way to gruffly reject advice from political leaders.

The New York Times

And more recently, they failed to tackle the insurgency and violence following the occupation of Iraq, going out of their way to reject advice and help from more experienced voices who warned of such lawlessness.Even if the Bush administration was correct in maintaining that the ports deal did not compromise national security, you can understand why most Americans wanted to see more proof.

The Economist

In a 2010 Chilcot inquiry hearing, former Foreign Secretary Straw defended his decision to reject advice from senior legal government officers that said the war was illegal, saying there had been "different views" on the legality, but in the end ministers had to make a decision on whether it was right to take action against Saddam.

Vice

Mixed messages are therefore sometimes apparent from policy implementation partners during the preparation of research outputs, with professions of laudable albeit sometime elusive impartiality, suggestions bordering on instructions, and a sense of seeking to reject advice before it has been fully delivered.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But Danish voters have a history of rejecting advice.

The Economist

But he has rejected advice to work on his thinning hair or get Botox injections.

The New York Times

This was more often than Labour ministers rejected advice between 2001 and 2010.

Independent

But he rejected advice to ban "harshing" – which involves screaming at detainees during interrogation.

Independent

— and Ms. Squatriglia and Mr. Barnes rejected advice they got as they prepared to open.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the situation when using "reject advice". In formal contexts, alternatives like "decline guidance" or "disregard counsel" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid overly strong language when describing the rejection of advice, especially in professional settings. A simple statement of differing viewpoints is often more effective than accusatory or dismissive language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reject advice" functions as a verb phrase, where "reject" is the transitive verb and "advice" is its direct object. Ludwig examples show it often describes decisions made against recommendations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reject advice" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered expression, as validated by Ludwig AI. It signifies the act of not following or accepting recommendations. While not overly frequent, its usage is consistent across news, scientific, and general contexts. Ludwig's analysis emphasizes the importance of context when using this phrase, suggesting that alternatives like "disregard counsel" or "decline guidance" might be more suitable in formal settings. It's essential to articulate the reasons for "rejecting advice" to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disregard counsel

Replaces "advice" with the more formal "counsel" and "reject" with "disregard", creating a more formal and authoritative tone.

decline guidance

Substitutes "advice" with "guidance", which implies a broader scope of recommendations, and "reject" with "decline", suggesting a polite refusal.

ignore recommendations

Replaces "advice" with "recommendations", emphasizing specific suggestions, and "reject" with "ignore", implying a lack of attention or consideration.

refuse to heed suggestions

Replaces "reject advice" with a more emphatic refusal to "heed" (pay attention to) suggestions.

dismiss input

Uses "dismiss" instead of "reject", indicating a quick and possibly disrespectful rejection of someone's "input".

turn down proposals

This is suited for business or formal settings.

brush aside suggestions

Implies the suggestions are treated as unimportant or bothersome.

rebuff counsel

Indicates a blunt or abrupt rejection of advice.

not take on board advice

A more idiomatic way of saying someone didn't consider the advice.

disregard instructions

Suggests that the advice came in the form of instructions.

FAQs

How can I use "reject advice" in a sentence?

You can use "reject advice" to indicate that someone is not following a suggestion or recommendation. For example: "Despite repeated warnings, he chose to "reject advice" and proceed with his plan."

What's a more formal way to say "reject advice"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "disregard counsel" or "decline guidance". These alternatives maintain a respectful tone while conveying the same meaning.

Is it ever appropriate to "reject advice"?

Yes, it's often appropriate to "reject advice" if you have carefully considered it and have valid reasons for disagreeing. Making informed decisions based on your own judgment is sometimes necessary, even if it means "rejecting advice" from others.

What can I say instead of "reject advice" in a professional setting?

In a professional context, consider using phrases like "disregard counsel" or "refuse to heed suggestions". These options provide a more nuanced and respectful way to express disagreement.