strive to underpromise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to underpromise" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the importance of managing expectations and delivering results that exceed what was initially promised. Example: "In our customer service approach, we strive to underpromise and overdeliver, ensuring that clients are pleasantly surprised by our efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Strive to underpromise and overdeliver".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Internally, the mantra has long been to underpromise and overdeliver.

The New York Times

The key to keeping shareholders onside, it is reckoned, is to underpromise and overdeliver.

The Guardian - Business

Better to underpromise and overdeliver on dating Web sites, and elsewhere, than to play it in reverse.

The New York Times

While it is not clear if the government is simply trying to underpromise, then overdeliver, there is widespread agreement that the drilling is unlikely to endanger the miners.

The New York Times

"The evidence to date is very promising, but as with anything, we always want to underpromise and overdeliver," Bryan Burhans, the Chestnut Foundation's president, said in an interview.

The New York Times

"Some 77% of those companies that have reported have exceeded estimates compared with the usual 60% that know how to underpromise and overdeliver," Farrell wrote.

Forbes

However, the problem with the cliche to "underpromise and overdeliver" is that in actual practice, when you "underpromise" it means that you aren't accurately stating what you'll do for people (your customers).

Huffington Post

If you can consistently keep your promises, you will be like that great entrepreneur who knows that the key to success is to underpromise and overdeliver.

Huffington Post

We strive to get better".

The New York Times - Sports

CENTRAL bankers ordinarily strive to be boring.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting goals or making promises, aim to be conservative in your initial estimates. This allows you the opportunity to exceed expectations and create a positive impression.

Common error

Avoid the temptation to make overly ambitious promises to secure a deal or impress someone. Consistently failing to meet expectations can damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to underpromise" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates the intention or goal behind an action, aligning with the principle of managing and exceeding expectations. It refers to an effort to manage the expectations. Ludwig AI identifies instances of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "strive to underpromise" embodies a strategic approach to expectation management, advocating for setting conservative initial promises to facilitate exceeding them later. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase, while grammatically correct, is relatively rare. It appears most often in news and media, science, and wiki contexts. By understanding the function, purpose, and register of "strive to underpromise", writers can effectively incorporate it into their communication to convey a sense of strategic expectation management, boosting credibility and satisfaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim to undersell and overdeliver

Focuses on sales and marketing context. Undersell relates to the low initial price and value offered.

seek to set low expectations

This emphasizes setting expectations deliberately low.

endeavor to manage expectations carefully

Highlights the cautious management of expectations.

try to downplay initial promises

Downplaying emphasizes minimizing the initial commitments.

work to exceed initial commitments

Focus on exceeding commitments.

make an effort to overdeliver

Focuses solely on exceeding expectations, without the underpromising aspect.

attempt to temper expectations

Focuses on moderating or reducing expectations.

strive to keep promises

Highlights keeping promises rather than exceeding them.

try to be realistic about delivery

Focuses on honest and accurate delivery, without necessarily exceeding expectations.

aim for realistic expectations

Focuses on accuracy, rather than exceeding expectations. No over delivering aspect.

FAQs

What does it mean to "strive to underpromise"?

To "strive to underpromise" means to make an effort to promise less than you are actually capable of delivering. This approach is often used to ensure that you can exceed expectations and create a positive impression.

How can I use "strive to underpromise" in a sentence?

You might say, "In customer service, we "strive to underpromise" and overdeliver to ensure customer satisfaction".

What's the difference between "strive to underpromise" and simply being honest?

"Strive to underpromise" involves intentionally setting expectations slightly lower than what you believe you can achieve. While honesty is always important, this phrase suggests a strategic approach to exceeding those expectations, whereas being honest involves telling the unvarnished truth. They are not mutually exclusive.

What can I say instead of "strive to underpromise"?

You can use alternatives like "aim to undersell and overdeliver", "seek to set low expectations", or "endeavor to manage expectations carefully" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.