undermine the focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undermine the focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that distract from or weaken the main point or objective of a discussion, project, or task. Example: "The constant interruptions during the meeting served to undermine the focus on our main agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Introducing democracy now, they feel, would undermine the focus of the Coalition Authority and the Governing Council, whose members would naturally be consumed by elections and constitutional deliberations.

The New York Times

"His connections to the fossil fuel and nuclear power industries threaten to undermine the focus we need to see on renewables and energy efficiency," said Tyson Slocum, director of the energy program at the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A duty along these lines would not undermine the academic focus of super-selective schools, argues the study.

BBC

The absence of some articles from this map is unlikely to undermine the overall analysis, although the focus on English literature does affect assessment of where such work has been conducted, and, perhaps, of approaches to this work.

Health Policy and Planning

The Israelis also believed that a diplomatic focus would undermine the surprise of a military operation.

The New Yorker

Republican lawmakers released a 63-page report on Sunday designed to undermine the nomination, much of it focused on one case during Perez's tenure at the civil rights division.

Huffington Post

The next surgeon general should focus on government programs that undermine the nation's health.

Forbes

Insurgents are increasingly focusing on the government; they want to undermine the system by preventing it from getting things done.

The Economist

"The Finding was focussed on undermining Iran's nuclear ambitions and trying to undermine the government through regime change," a person familiar with its contents said, and involved "working with opposition groups and passing money".

The New Yorker

— undermine the message.

The New York Times - Books

A shock could undermine the economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "undermine the focus" when describing subtle or gradual weakening, rather than a sudden disruption. For abrupt interruptions, consider "disrupt" or "derail".

Common error

Avoid using "undermine the focus" without clearly specifying what is causing the distraction or weakening of attention. Vague statements can reduce the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undermine the focus" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action that weakens or diminishes the central point of attention or effort. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing factors that detract from a specific objective.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undermine the focus" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe actions or factors that weaken or distract from a central point or objective. While not extremely common, its use is valid and clear, particularly in news and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly identify the cause of the undermining to maintain clarity. Alternatives like "disrupt the focus" or "weaken the concentration" can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weaken the concentration

This alternative emphasizes reducing the strength of mental effort applied to a specific point.

disrupt the concentration

This alternative is more about a sudden break or interruption of the mental effort applied to a specific point.

divert attention from

This phrase emphasizes shifting the attention away from the focal point, thus reducing the attention on something else.

detract from the core

This alternative suggests diminishing the value of what is most important. Is less about cognitive processes.

erode the emphasis

This phrase highlights a gradual weakening of the relative importance placed on something.

sabotage the priority

This alternative introduces a sense of intentional disruption affecting the priority of something.

compromise the objective

This alternative is less about thinking and more about achieving goals.

jeopardize the aim

This phrase implies putting the purpose at risk.

hinder the goal

This alternative focuses on preventing the achievement of the desired result.

obstruct the purpose

This phrase indicates blocking or impeding progress toward a specific goal.

FAQs

How can I use "undermine the focus" in a sentence?

You can use "undermine the focus" to describe actions or situations that weaken or distract from the main point. For example, "Constant interruptions can "undermine the focus" of a meeting".

What are some alternatives to "undermine the focus"?

Alternatives include "disrupt the focus", "weaken the concentration", or "divert attention from", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "undermine the focus" or "disrupt the focus"?

The choice depends on the context. "Undermine the focus" suggests a gradual weakening, while "disrupt the focus" implies a sudden interruption. Choose the verb that best reflects the nature of the distraction.

Can external factors "undermine the focus"?

Yes, external factors like noise, interruptions, or conflicting priorities can all "undermine the focus" on a task or objective.