that sounds crazy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'that sounds crazy' is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is typically used to express surprise or disbelief at something that someone has said. For example, you could write: My friend said he'd run a marathon—that sounds crazy!.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

I've collecThe most of them here with explaNASAons Innovativeinest lAdvancedI Conceptsmmon — click on to see what NASA thinks the future of sprogramploratisn might look like.

TechCrunch

Even the shit that sounds crazy to most people--i.e., that this planet is a dumping ground for all kinds of energetic and emotional refuse and extra-terrestrial lurkers, all of which are disembodied entities looking for human victims to latch on to--seems pretty accurate to me.

Vice

Even the shit that sounds crazy to most people – i.e., that this planet is a dumping ground for all kinds of energetic and emotional refuse and extra-terrestrial lurkers, all of which are disembodied entities looking for human victims to latch on to – seems pretty accurate to me.

Vice

One treatment that sounds crazy, but works very well for some people, is drinking four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, diluted in water daily.

WikiHow

That sounds crazy, but it's true.

The New York Times

"I know that sounds crazy, but we did expect to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

And that sounded crazy.

TechCrunch

His strategy with Founders Fund and Mithril Capital is to fund ideas that sound crazy to most people, but have the potential to radically change the world.

TechCrunch

That sounded crazy enough to us that we had to find out more from dvdan himself.

Vice

If this sounds crazy, that's because it is.

Huffington Post

He acknowledged that this sounded crazy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that sounds crazy" to express surprise or disbelief in response to an unexpected or unconventional statement. It's a versatile phrase applicable in both formal and informal settings.

Common error

While "that sounds crazy" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in a single conversation. Vary your responses with alternatives like "that's unbelievable" or "that's hard to believe" to maintain engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sounds crazy" functions as an interjection or comment expressing surprise, disbelief, or strong disagreement with a statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's used to convey a speaker's immediate reaction to something they find unexpected or outlandish.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

9%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that sounds crazy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey surprise, disbelief, or disagreement. Ludwig AI confirms that it is indeed correct. It is most prevalent in News & Media contexts but also appears frequently in online forums. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider more formal alternatives like "that seems implausible" in certain settings. When in doubt, remember that the most authoritative sources suggest limiting its use to more casual or quoted speech. You can also replace it with alternative phrases like "that seems unbelievable" or "that's hard to believe".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems unbelievable

Emphasizes incredulity regarding the statement.

that appears absurd

Highlights the illogical or unreasonable nature of the statement.

that seems preposterous

Stresses the ridiculousness and implausibility of the statement.

that's hard to believe

Focuses on the difficulty in accepting the statement as true.

that's quite a stretch

Indicates that the statement is an exaggeration or unlikely.

that's far-fetched

Highlights the improbability and unrealistic nature of the statement.

that's a wild idea

Emphasizes the unconventional and perhaps unrealistic nature of the statement.

that's out there

Suggests the statement is unconventional or eccentric.

that's a bit much

Indicates the statement is excessive or extreme.

i find that hard to swallow

Expresses difficulty in accepting or believing the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "that sounds crazy" in a sentence?

Use "that sounds crazy" as a direct response to a statement you find surprising or hard to believe. For example, "He wants to quit his job and travel the world? That sounds crazy!"

What can I say instead of "that sounds crazy"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems unbelievable", "that appears absurd", or "that's hard to believe" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "that sounds crazy" in formal writing?

While "that sounds crazy" is more common in informal settings, it can be used in formal writing if the tone is conversational or if you are quoting someone. Consider using a more formal alternative like "that seems implausible" if a formal tone is needed.

What's the difference between "that sounds crazy" and "that is crazy"?

"That sounds crazy" expresses your immediate reaction or perception of something, while "that is crazy" is a more direct statement of fact. "That sounds crazy" implies it seems unbelievable to you, while "that is crazy" is a more objective assessment.