trigger a dispute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trigger a dispute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an action or event that causes a disagreement or conflict between parties. Example: "The sudden change in policy may trigger a dispute among the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This has triggered a dispute over the value of the coupons.

The New York Times

In Canada, Black's reappearance in the country in which he was born in 1944 triggered a dispute that rose to the top of the political system.

The Guardian - Business

The company's rise to prominence triggered a dispute with the University of Illinois, which had trademarked the Mosaic name and designated another company as master licensee for the NCSA Mosaic software.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This triggered a dispute between Central Board of Film Certification and Imtiaz Ali when the Board asked Ali to blur the flag before the film hit the theatre, but the director refused to do it.

Wikipedia

If the UK tries to unilaterally separate its trade arrangements from the EU without getting its agreement first, Brussels can trigger a trade dispute.

The Guardian

The debate has been triggered by a dispute over where Pemberton should serve his sentence.

Independent

Over the weekend, anti-Japanese protests, triggered by a dispute over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, led to violence and rioting.

The New Yorker

Despite Machar now calling for Kiir to be ousted, consensus among analysts is that Sunday's fighting was no coup attempt, but was triggered by a dispute between elements of the Presidential Guards, known as the Tigers.

Vice

But it triggered a fresh dispute between Osborne and his Labour shadow Ed Balls over whether the government's austerity programme had helped or hindered recovery from Britain's deepest recession of the postwar era.

The Guardian - Business

The government has sought to bolster its economic ties with China, striking a free trade agreement that triggered a political dispute in Canberra this year, but also joined the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country trade pact that does not include China.

The Guardian

The video describes the Copts as "crusaders" and refers among other things to two women, wives of Coptic priests, whose alleged conversion to Islam triggered a sectarian dispute in Egypt in 2010.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trigger a dispute", ensure that the context clearly identifies the action or event that initiated the disagreement, and the parties involved.

Common error

Avoid attributing a dispute to a superficial trigger when deeper, underlying issues are the actual cause. Ensure a thorough analysis of the situation to identify the root causes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trigger a dispute" functions as a causative verb phrase, indicating that an action or event initiates a disagreement. It emphasizes the direct relationship between the trigger and the subsequent dispute. Ludwig AI indicates this is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trigger a dispute" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the action of initiating a disagreement or conflict. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's relatively rare. It's commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki sources, indicating its use in reporting and analytical contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the initiating action and the parties involved are clearly identified. Related alternatives include "spark a conflict" and "initiate a disagreement", offering varying levels of formality and intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a conflict

Replaces 'dispute' with the more intense 'conflict', suggesting a larger scale disagreement.

initiate a disagreement

Uses more formal language than "trigger a dispute", replacing 'dispute' with 'disagreement'.

cause a contention

Employs the word 'contention', which implies a strong disagreement or heated debate.

provoke a quarrel

Uses 'quarrel' instead of 'dispute', indicating a more personal or emotional disagreement.

give rise to a controversy

Replaces 'dispute' with 'controversy', suggesting a disagreement that attracts public attention.

lead to discord

Employs 'discord' to emphasize the lack of harmony or agreement resulting from the triggering event.

set off a debate

Replaces 'dispute' with 'debate', indicating a more structured and formal disagreement.

elicit a confrontation

Uses 'confrontation', suggesting a direct and often hostile opposition.

foment a conflict

Replaces "trigger" with "foment", suggesting that the dispute is deliberately stirred up

beget a disagreement

Uses "beget" which means to cause or produce, framing the disagreement as a consequence of an action.

FAQs

What does "trigger a dispute" mean?

The phrase "trigger a dispute" means to cause a disagreement or conflict to start, often as a result of a specific action, event, or decision.

What can I say instead of "trigger a dispute"?

You can use alternatives like "spark a conflict", "initiate a disagreement", or "cause a contention" depending on the context.

How do I use "trigger a dispute" in a sentence?

You can use "trigger a dispute" in a sentence like this: "The new policy change could trigger a dispute between the management and the employees."

What's the difference between "trigger a dispute" and "escalate a dispute"?

"Trigger a dispute" means to start a disagreement, while "escalate a dispute" means to increase the intensity or seriousness of an existing disagreement.