tricky decision to make

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tricky decision to make" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a choice that is difficult or complicated, often due to the potential consequences involved. Example: "Choosing between two job offers was a tricky decision to make, as both had their own advantages and disadvantages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Romney now has a tricky decision to make.

The New Yorker

The selectors have a tricky decision to make in the Caribbean.

Independent

I would like to think that I have given them a tricky decision to make".

The Guardian - Sport

It is a tricky decision to make, as Turkey is located in one of the most active earthquake regions in the world, and more than 90 percent of its territory is prone to earthquakes.

The New York Times

Gardiner said May had a tricky decision to make over Hinkley, given that it was a bad value deal, but trade with China is crucial as Britain negotiates its departure from the EU.

The Guardian

The Wolves have not won at St Helens in 23 away games – including one that was switched to Anfield – since the old winter days of January 1994, but Bridge's recent return from a shoulder injury has given their coach, Tony Smith, even more selection options than he had ahead of the Challenge Cup final against Leeds two weeks ago, and with a tricky decision to make.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Walker, at least, tried to show how tricky these bonuses and pay decisions supposedly are.

The Guardian - Business

"I guess they've got some tricky decisions to make.

The Guardian

But the judge was also presented with a trickier decision to make: just how the teenager was related to the boy.

The New York Times

Now D'Antoni has a decision to make.

The New York Times - Sports

Together we had a decision to make.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "tricky decision to make", ensure that the context clearly explains why the decision is difficult. Provide enough background information so the reader understands the complexities involved.

Common error

Avoid using "tricky decision to make" as a generic descriptor. Instead, specify the factors that make the decision challenging. For example, instead of saying "It was a tricky decision to make", say "Balancing the budget cuts and maintaining service quality was a tricky decision to make."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tricky decision to make" functions as a descriptor, characterizing the nature of a decision as complex and challenging. As shown in Ludwig, it frequently qualifies a situation where careful consideration and weighing of options are necessary.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Sport

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tricky decision to make" effectively communicates that a particular choice is complex and requires careful consideration. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and predominantly used in News & Media, Sport, and Wiki contexts. While not exceedingly common, with the tool reporting it as "Uncommon", it finds regular use in describing situations where the decision-maker faces multiple conflicting factors. For alternative phrasing, consider using "difficult choice to make" or "challenging decision to make" to emphasize the degree of difficulty. The most important thing to remember is to provide sufficient context to highlight exactly which factors are creating the "tricky" element of that decision. Overall, based on Ludwig AI, this is considered a proper phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult choice to make

Replaces "decision" with "choice", emphasizing the act of choosing rather than the decision itself. Also, tricky is replaced by difficult.

challenging decision to make

Substitutes "tricky" with "challenging", highlighting the demanding nature of the decision.

complex decision to make

Replaces "tricky" with "complex", focusing on the multifaceted nature of the decision.

complicated decision to make

Emphasizes the intricate nature of the decision, using "complicated" instead of "tricky".

tough decision to make

Replaces "tricky" with "tough", highlighting the difficulty and potential consequences of the decision.

demanding decision to make

Emphasizes the high requirements and effort needed for the decision, using "demanding" instead of "tricky".

critical decision to make

Highlights the importance and potential impact of the decision.

sensitive decision to make

Focuses on the delicate nature of the decision, implying it requires careful handling.

delicate decision to make

Similar to "sensitive", emphasizing the need for careful consideration and handling.

nuanced decision to make

Highlights the subtle complexities and details that must be considered in the decision.

FAQs

What does "tricky decision to make" mean?

It describes a situation where a choice needs to be made, but the options are complex, potentially risky, or have conflicting benefits and drawbacks.

What can I say instead of "tricky decision to make"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult choice to make", "challenging decision to make", or "complex decision to make" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "tricky decision to make"?

Yes, the phrase "tricky decision to make" is grammatically sound and commonly used in English.

How can I use "tricky decision to make" in a sentence?

Example: "The manager had a "tricky decision to make" regarding which employee to promote, as both were highly qualified but had different strengths."