restrained me from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "restrained me from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone or something prevented you from doing something. Example: "The rules of the competition restrained me from participating in the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some residual belief in self-discipline and the need to earn a living has restrained me from lying in bed 24 hours a day watching TV or sitting at a computer trying to get into people's chatrooms.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had to restrain me from attacking a bellboy who rolled over some of them with a luggage cart".

The New Yorker

Three hours later an injunction from the high court was served to me in my office, restraining me from selling the letters, and asserting that they were the property of the publishers.

The Guardian - Books

I just need to be happy, and it took me a while to admit that living here restrains me from creating the type of environment that facilitates life as I value it.

Huffington Post

"There was one particular time I remember distinctly: I was staying with him and I had to go dance somewhere, and he literally tried to restrain me from going".

Vice

Asked to comment, Ito said in an email Friday that ethics rules "restrain me from responding" because the Simpson case "is still a pending collection matter," a reference to the Goldman family's ongoing efforts to collect damages from the civil case.

Los Angeles Times

But he said that his agency had been restrained from acting by aggressive legal challenges from Telmex.

The New York Times

(He restrained himself from buying it).

The New York Times

(Thus far he has restrained himself from test-marketing his middle name, Jacob).

The New York Times

But all that blood!, I restrained myself from sputtering as they passed.

The Guardian - Film

When Mallam Sile related this to his wife, she restrained herself from telling him the truth.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "restrained me from", ensure that the context clearly identifies what force or influence caused the restraint. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid constructions where the subject is unclear or hidden. Instead of "I was restrained from acting", consider "The rules of the competition restrained me from acting" to specify the source of restraint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "restrained me from" functions as a verb phrase indicating a cause-and-effect relationship, where an external force or rule prevented the speaker from performing a certain action. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "restrained me from" is a useful construct to express that one was prevented from doing something, often due to external factors or rules. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for a neutral register, although its frequency is relatively uncommon. Alternatives such as "prevented me from" or "stopped me from" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. When using the phrase, clarity is key: specify what exactly caused the restraint to avoid ambiguity. The variety of sources in Ludwig indicate that the phrase is correctly used, it is important to prevent overuse of passive voice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevented me from

Emphasizes the act of stopping someone from doing something.

stopped me from

A more direct and informal way of saying someone was blocked from doing something.

kept me from

A general way to say someone was prevented from doing something.

discouraged me from

Highlights the act of advising against something, leading to restraint.

deterred me from

Focuses on instilling fear or doubt to prevent an action.

hindered me from

Suggests that something made it more difficult to do something.

inhibited me from

Implies a psychological or social barrier to action.

held me back from

Indicates a force or situation that kept someone from progressing or acting.

dissuaded me from

Highlights the act of convincing someone not to do something.

made me refrain from

Focuses on the act of consciously avoiding something.

FAQs

What does "restrained me from" mean?

The phrase "restrained me from" means that something or someone prevented you from doing something. It indicates a force or influence that held you back from performing a particular action.

How can I use "restrained me from" in a sentence?

You can use "restrained me from" to describe a situation where an external factor limited your actions. For example: "The ethics rules "restrained me from responding"".

What are some alternatives to "restrained me from"?

Some alternatives to "restrained me from" include "prevented me from", "stopped me from", or "discouraged me from". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "restrained me from" formal or informal?

"Restrained me from" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "prevented me from" might be preferred in highly formal writing.