under the prodding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under the prodding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is being encouraged or pushed to take action, often in a gentle or persistent manner. Example: "Under the prodding of her mentor, she finally decided to apply for the scholarship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Israeli and Palestinian leaders, under the prodding hand of American officials, are making some progress toward an interim accord, officials said today, but they described the going as slow and the mistrust as still deep.

The New York Times

Under the prodding of America, Mr Mubarak says he will give Egyptians more political freedom.

The Economist

But now many experts believe the pendulum is swinging the other way under the prodding of the Reagan philosophy and cuts in funds for the cities.

The New York Times

As the case came unglued under the prodding of Judge James A. Parker, evidence has mounted that Mr. Lee was singled out because of his Chinese ancestry.

The New York Times

Under the prodding of Chile's armed forces, the Santiago government is seeking to update a jet fleet that dates from the 1960's.

The New York Times

Under the prodding of interviewers, Morris has said that when he was a child he spent a lot of time in front of the bedroom mirror, wrapped in bedsheets, doing the Trojan War or Carmen Miranda or whatever.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

That said, the apparent swap in plastic component for the touchscreen, which has much less give under the prod of a stylus, is a welcome one.

The Guardian - Tech

The box, of course, is partly of the advocates' making -- a shelter system that has expanded and improved under the prod of court rulings, and has sapped the city's political will to actually prevent or solve homelessness.

The New York Times

The House initially rejected the proposal, but under prodding from the White House and leading members of both parties, House members ultimately voted 263 to 171 for the bill, with 91 Republicans joining 172 Democrats in backing it; 108 Republicans and 63 Democrats voted no.

The New York Times

Under their prodding the European Commission has unveiled a plan to create a financial transaction tax: Buy or sell stocks, bonds or derivatives and you'll pay tribute to the EU.

Forbes

As the U.S. banking system, under prodding from the Federal Reserve, moves to real-time payments, Roberts said Bank of America's merchants are content with next day funds availability, which the bank provides to small businesses.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under the prodding" to subtly indicate that an action was influenced by someone else's encouragement, without necessarily implying coercion or negativity.

Common error

While "under the prodding" is a valid expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "prompted by" or "at the urging of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under the prodding" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the influence or instigation behind an action. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use to show that decisions or actions occur due to external encouragement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "under the prodding" is a prepositional phrase that signifies influence or encouragement leading to a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in describing situations where external factors gently push someone to act. While commonly found in news and formal contexts, it's important to vary your language to avoid repetition, using alternatives such as "prompted by" or "at the urging of". Understanding its subtle nuance, different from phrases like "under pressure", ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prompted by

Implies that the action was a direct result of someone's suggestion or action.

at the urging of

Replaces "prodding" with "urging", implying a slightly stronger form of encouragement.

encouraged by

A more general term for receiving support or motivation to do something.

persuaded by

Implies that someone was convinced to take a specific action.

at the instigation of

Suggests the action was initiated or provoked by someone, which is a stronger connotation than simply being encouraged.

with the encouragement of

Similar to "encouraged by", but emphasizes the active support provided by someone.

spurred on by

Suggests that the action was motivated by a stimulating or inciting force.

influenced by

Suggests a more subtle and indirect form of persuasion.

due to the influence of

Highlights the causal relationship between someone's influence and the action taken.

at the behest of

Indicates that the action was carried out as a command or formal request from someone.

FAQs

How can I use "under the prodding" in a sentence?

You can use "under the prodding" to indicate that someone took action because they were encouraged or influenced by another person or entity. For example, "Under the prodding of his advisors, the CEO decided to invest in renewable energy".

What can I say instead of "under the prodding"?

You can use alternatives like "prompted by", "at the urging of", or "encouraged by" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "under the prodding" or "because of the prodding"?

"Under the prodding" is often preferred for its more subtle implication of influence, whereas "because of the prodding" directly attributes the action as a result of the prodding. Choose the phrase that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "under the prodding" and "under pressure"?

"Under the prodding" suggests encouragement or gentle persuasion, while "under pressure" implies a more forceful or coercive influence. The former is generally less negative than the latter.