sally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sally" is correct and usable in written English, though it is context-dependent.
You can use it when referring to a sudden charge or an excursion, often in a military context or in literature. Example: "The knight made a bold sally into the enemy's camp, surprising them at dawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Economist

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

He worried that in a depressed global economy, without enough spending to go around, countries would sally forth and grab a bit of extra demand for themselves by weakening their currencies.

The Economist

Using a mix of computerised tomography and mundane measurements with callipers, they assessed the lengths, widths, thicknesses, densities and bending potential of the bones of the modern animals and compared them with those gleaned from Anurognathus fossils.Anurognathus's mouth, they found, was similar to the mouths of nightjars, which also sally after prey (though they do hawk as well).

The Economist

A sally into America in 2007 by Tesco, a then imperious but now troubled British retailer, ended badly.

The Economist

(In an opening sally about the Arab spring, Mr Romney even talked of "hope" and "change" being undermined in the region, in what sounded like a subliminal reminder of Mr Obama's domestic pitch of four years earlier).As for Mr Obama, he could justifiably claim to have won the debate.

The Economist

That is all gone, leaving only a bit about no compulsory redundancies this year, which is pretty meaningless, because the French carmakers are already deep into voluntary redundancy schemes and part-time working.The French president now has a new explanation for his protectionist sally.

The Economist

These dragged on for two years, without managing to silence Mr Malema.But his latest sally, accusing Mr Zuma of quashing dissent and replacing democracy with dictatorship, proved the last straw.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Kadcyla is a brilliant drug, but it's also incredibly expensive," said Sally Greenbrook of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The Guardian

Rose Boland, one of the most visible women at the time, was heavy-set, double-chinned and middle-aged, as unlike Sally Hawkins as can be.

The Guardian

Sally Hamilton, a marine biologist and director of Orca, a charity devoted to whale and dolphin protection, said: "Numerous boats wouldn't be something they were used to.

The Guardian

British winner The Phone Call is a maudlin, actorly exercise that does at least showcase typically astute, empathic emoting by Sally Hawkins.

The Guardian - Film

University and College Union general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "For too long, further education has had to bear the brunt of funding cuts.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sally" in a military context, ensure it clearly indicates a sudden attack or movement from a defended position. For other uses, consider if a more common word like 'excursion' or 'quip' would be clearer for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "sally" when a simpler, more direct word would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily archaic or affected.

Linguistic Context

The word "sally" functions primarily as a noun or a verb. As a verb, it describes a sudden movement or attack. As a noun, it refers to the act of sallying, a witty remark, or an excursion. Ludwig provides examples of both usages.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

The Economist

29%

The Guardian

29%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "sally" is a versatile term with meanings ranging from a sudden military attack to a witty remark or an excursion. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, though potentially less common in modern usage. Primarily found in news and media sources, "sally"'s formality is generally neutral. When writing, be mindful of the intended context; consider whether more common terms like "foray" or ""quip"" might be clearer alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sortie

Implies a sudden attack or movement from a defensive position, similar to one sense of "sally".

foray

Suggests a brief excursion or attempt, similar to the 'excursion' meaning of "sally".

raid

Conveys a sudden and swift attack, akin to the military sense of "sally".

venture forth

Indicates a bold or risky undertaking, paralleling the 'venture' aspect of "sally".

quip

Refers to a witty or sharp remark, matching the 'witty statement' meaning of "sally".

wisecrack

Similar to "quip", emphasizing a clever and often sarcastic remark.

salvo

Indicates a burst of remarks or actions, sharing the 'sudden burst' concept.

onslaught

Implies a fierce or destructive attack, relating to the forceful nature of a "sally".

verbal jab

Describes a quick and pointed remark, similar to the witty sense of "sally".

crack

Another phrase for a quick, witty remark.

FAQs

How can "sally" be used in a sentence?

As a verb, "sally" means to rush forth suddenly. For example, "The troops sallied from the fort." As a noun, it can refer to a sortie, a witty remark, or an excursion. Example: "Her opening "quip" was a clever sally."

What's the difference between "sally" and "sortie"?

"Sally" and "sortie" are often interchangeable when referring to a military action, but "sally" can also refer to a witty remark or an excursion, whereas "sortie" is almost exclusively used in a military or strategic context.

What can I say instead of "sally forth"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "venture out", "set out", or "embark on" as alternatives to "sally forth".

Is "sally" formal or informal?

The formality of "sally" depends on the context. In modern usage, it tends to be more formal or literary, particularly when used to describe an excursion or witty remark. The military sense is also relatively formal.