threatening to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "threatening to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an intention to cause harm or negative consequences to someone or something. Example: "The storm is threatening to disrupt our travel plans this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

You're threatening to emigrate?

The Guardian - Opinion

They were threatening to kill him.

The New Yorker

Now Uruguay is threatening to follow suit.

The Economist

Several are threatening to rescind their contributions.

The New York Times - Arts

Now Wisconsin is threatening to score again.

The New York Times

"One hundred is threatening to leave".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Lawyers threatened to sue.

The New York Times

They never threatened to.

The New York Times - Sports

Clay threatened to sue.

The New Yorker

Hunger threatened to precipitate mutiny.

Independent

Or threatened to come back?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "threatening to" to clearly convey a potential negative outcome or action, ensuring the context makes the potential consequence understandable. For example, "The company is "threatening to" cut jobs if profits don't improve."

Common error

Avoid using "threatening to" when the potential outcome isn't genuinely negative or unwanted. Overusing it can dilute the impact of real threats and make your writing seem melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "threatening to" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a potential future action that is typically undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage, primarily in contexts where negative consequences are being highlighted. It describes a state where something is likely to happen soon and its function is to alert the reader.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "threatening to" is a versatile verb phrase used to express a potential, usually negative, future action. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely employed, particularly in news and media contexts. While it's crucial to use this phrase appropriately, avoiding melodrama, "threatening to" effectively communicates potential risks and consequences. Alternatives such as "about to" or "on the verge of" can offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

posing a risk of

Directly indicates a potential threat or hazard.

about to

Indicates imminence of an event, rather than an explicitly stated threat.

on the verge of

Suggests an action is very close to happening, similar to "threatening to" but less forceful.

in danger of

Highlights the risk of something adverse happening.

liable to

Implies a probability or tendency for something negative to occur.

menacing

Focuses on the threatening quality itself, rather than a specific action.

on course to

Indicates that something is likely to happen if the current trajectory continues.

likely to

Indicates high probability that something is going to happen

portending

Suggests that something is foreshadowing a future event.

risking

Highlights that you are putting a negative outcome on stake.

FAQs

How can I use "threatening to" in a sentence?

Use "threatening to" to indicate a potential negative action or consequence. For example, "The storm is "threatening to" flood the coastal areas."

What are some alternatives to "threatening to"?

You can use alternatives like "about to", "on the verge of", or "liable to" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "threatening to" in formal writing?

Yes, "threatening to" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing potential risks or consequences. However, ensure the tone remains objective and not overly dramatic.

What's the difference between "threatening to" and "in danger of"?

"Threatening to" implies a deliberate action or possibility, while "in danger of" suggests a state of vulnerability. For example, "The company is "threatening to" close the factory" suggests an active decision, while "The company is "in danger of" closing the factory" implies external pressures.