uncanny timing

USAGE SUMMARY

"uncanny timing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something happens right when it is needed, or right when you were thinking of it - almost like it was meant to be. For example: "His uncanny timing saved us from certain doom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

A film about politics as theatre and about the dynamic of male-female relationships amplified by power itself, Jackie will arrive in cinemas, with uncanny timing, around the time of the inauguration.

The Guardian - Opinion

This time, with uncanny timing, his country has been battered by the even stronger super-typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful ever recorded anywhere – 25 miles (40km) wide and reaching astonishing speeds of possibly 200mph (3200mph).

The Guardian - Opinion

What is the value of a young black man's life – a question that should have been settled a long time ago – had been posed anew with uncanny timing and force, said David Denby in the New Yorker.

The Guardian - Film

Thing Seven: Big Lots Executives Awesome At Stock-Market Timing: It turns out that all the executives at Big Lots have uncanny timing when selling Big Lots stock, the WSJ reports.

Huffington Post

"What's up?" Uncanny timing.

The New York Times

With uncanny timing, Ms Klein's first book, "No Logo", was published weeks later.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Mr. Ax played this haunting music with uncanny dramatic timing and melting sound.

The New York Times

Kristen Wiig, who plays Bliss's team-mate and surrogate mother Maggie Mayhem, has always been a brilliant, if one-dimensional comedic actor: here she adds some heart and soul to the uncanny comic timing.

The Guardian - Film

One of the richest men in Estonia, he has an uncanny sense of timing.

The Economist

Much of this was due to Mr Botín's uncanny sense of timing and laser-like focus on risk management.

The Economist

Having an uncanny sense of timing has been one of Mr. Cohen's talents, both in business and in collecting.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "uncanny timing" to emphasize a surprising or coincidental occurrence of an event at a particularly opportune moment. For example, "The release of the report had an "uncanny timing", coinciding with the public debate."

Common error

Avoid assuming a cause-and-effect relationship simply because events occur with "uncanny timing". Coincidence does not always imply causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "uncanny timing" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "uncanny" modifies the noun "timing". Ludwig confirms its correct usage in describing the surprising or coincidental alignment of events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

8%

Arts

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "uncanny timing" is a commonly used phrase to describe a surprising and often coincidental alignment of events that occur at a particularly relevant or opportune moment. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in a variety of contexts, ranging from news and media to sports and arts. While generally neutral, the phrase can convey either positive or negative connotations depending on the situation. When using "uncanny timing", writers should be aware of the potential for implying a causal relationship where none exists, and they should choose alternative phrases when greater clarity or precision is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bizarre timing

Emphasizes the strangeness or oddness of the timing.

astounding timing

Highlights the unexpected and remarkable nature of the timing.

surprising timing

Focuses on the unexpectedness of the timing.

strange timing

Indicates that the timing is peculiar or unusual.

astonishing timing

Stresses the remarkable and surprising nature of the timing.

uncanny timeliness

Highlights the appropriateness and relevance of the timing.

curious timing

Suggests the timing is intriguing and prompts further inquiry.

odd timing

Simply points out that the timing is unusual or peculiar.

weird timing

Emphasizes the strangeness and peculiarity of the timing.

peculiar timing

Highlights the unusual and distinctive nature of the timing.

FAQs

How to use "uncanny timing" in a sentence?

You can use "uncanny timing" to describe a situation where an event happens at a surprisingly appropriate or relevant moment. For example: "The film's release had an "uncanny timing", coinciding with a major political event."

What can I say instead of "uncanny timing"?

You can use alternatives like "surprising timing", "astonishing timing", or "curious timing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "uncanny timing" a positive or negative phrase?

"Uncanny timing" is generally neutral but can lean towards positive or negative depending on the context. It simply highlights the surprising appropriateness or relevance of when something occurs. A positive context could be: "His arrival had an "uncanny timing", just when we needed help." A negative context could be: "The scandal broke with "uncanny timing", right before the election."

What is the difference between "uncanny timing" and "lucky timing"?

"Uncanny timing" emphasizes the surprising and perhaps coincidental nature of events aligning, whereas "lucky timing" directly implies that the timing led to a fortunate outcome. "Lucky timing" suggests benefit; "uncanny timing" simply notes the odd coincidence.