take some convincing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take some convincing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that someone needs to be persuaded in order to do something. For example: My mother would take some convincing that I'm ready to move out of the house.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

These will take some convincing.

The Economist

It would just take some convincing.

The New York Times

Backers still take some convincing, however.

The New York Times - Science

But Crosby would take some convincing.

The Guardian

The rest of the world may take some convincing.

The Guardian - Business

It's going to take some convincing, however, to get the team behind this.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

I took some convincing.

The Guardian - Sport

"It probably took some convincing," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Helena's family took some convincing, however.

The Guardian

This took some convincing from our side," he said.

The New York Times

It took some convincing to get Claiborne to play cornerback.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take some convincing" when you want to express that someone will not readily agree or believe something without significant persuasion. It implies a degree of initial skepticism or resistance.

Common error

Avoid using "take some convincing" when a simple statement of disagreement or doubt would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or dramatic. For example, instead of saying 'Getting him to try new food will take some convincing', consider 'He's unlikely to try new food'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take some convincing" functions as an idiomatic expression. It's typically used as a predicate within a sentence, describing the degree of effort needed to persuade someone or to make something believable. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take some convincing" is a common and correct English phrase used to express that someone or something will require considerable persuasion. Ludwig confirms its usability and provides numerous real-world examples. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral formality level. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing it in contexts where simpler language would suffice. Consider alternatives such as "need some persuading" or "require persuasion" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

need some persuading

Similar to the original phrase, but uses 'persuading' instead of 'convincing'.

require persuasion

Focuses on the necessity of persuasion, highlighting the act of convincing someone.

be a hard sell

Implies that convincing someone will be difficult, like a challenging sales pitch.

won't be easily persuaded

Highlights the difficulty in convincing someone.

prove difficult to accept

Emphasizes the challenge in making something acceptable or believable.

demand evidence

Emphasizes the need for proof or evidence to believe something.

be met with disbelief

Focuses on the likely reaction of disbelief or incredulity.

face skepticism

Focuses on the initial doubt or disbelief that needs to be overcome.

encounter resistance

Suggests opposition or reluctance that must be addressed.

beg the question

Highlights the necessity for further supporting evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "take some convincing" in a sentence?

You can use "take some convincing" to indicate that someone or something will require persuasion. For example, 'The board will "need some persuading" to approve the budget', or 'He will "require persuasion" to change his mind'.

What are some alternatives to "take some convincing"?

Alternatives include "need some persuading", "require persuasion", "be a hard sell", or "face skepticism". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "took some convincing" instead of "take some convincing"?

Yes, both are correct, but they indicate different tenses. "Take some convincing" is in the present/future tense, suggesting something will require persuasion. "Took some convincing" is in the past tense, indicating that persuasion was required in the past.

What does it mean when something "takes some convincing"?

It means that persuading someone or getting them to believe something will not be easy and will require effort or evidence. It implies there's initial resistance or doubt that "demands evidence".