upsets play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upsets play" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to unexpected outcomes in a game or competition, but without context, it is unclear how to use it. Example: "The upsets play a significant role in determining the final standings of the tournament."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The BCS deprives us of seeing great upsets play out on the biggest stage of all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Every election has its surprises, and constant worry over possible upsets can play to the advantage of candidates trying to win attention from supporters.

The New York Times

D. J. Munir had 15 points for Stony Brook, but Reynolds was able to stifle the Seawolves' upset bid with athletic play rarely seen in this gym.

The New York Times - Sports

Mensah was sent off for a second yellow card 20 minutes from time, Puel adding that the defender was too upset to play.

The Guardian - Sport

And Mr. Hajj's character is allowed to emerge as a voice of sanity in ways that upset the play's judiciously apportioned craziness.

The New York Times

The Warriors pulled off one of the biggest upsets in play-off history but then lost in the second round, and Nelson was fired by the Warriors' new ownership in 2010.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upset the play wasn't overturned after booth review.

Huffington Post

Though Ms. Mutter and the Trondheim Soloists -- 15 string players and a harpsichordist -- must have been upset, they played beautifully.

The New York Times - Arts

And although the players did not know about the upset, they played as if they did for the first 1 minute 18 seconds against ninth-seeded Wake Forest, allowing the Demon Deacons to score the game's first 6 points.

The New York Times - Sports

"The first time a kid gets upset over playing time now he can say, 'The guy yelled at me.' I think it speaks volumes how much support he has from his players.

The New York Times - Sports

OBLIGATORY VAGUELY SUPER BOWL RELATED NEWS ITEM: LeBron James was upset about playing against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday because NBA rules meant he would be on a flight while the Baltimore Ravens were playing (and beating) the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Double-check that the words make sense when written down: read it to someone to be sure.

Common error

Avoid combining "upsets" with "play" when you mean "unexpected results". Remember that "upset" is usually an adjective (feeling upset) or a noun (an upset in a game). "Play" is usually a verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upsets play" functions as a noun phrase attempting to describe actions, however it is not a recognized grammatical construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upsets play" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While the intended meaning may revolve around describing unexpected or surprising actions within a game or performance, clearer alternatives such as "unexpected plays", "surprising actions", or "emotional performance" are preferable. These alternatives provide clarity and grammatical correctness, ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected results

Describes the unexpected results.

unexpected plays

Focuses on the unexpected nature of specific actions or maneuvers during a game.

surprising plays

Highlights the element of surprise in the actions taken during the performance.

unexpected moves

This emphasizes the surprise element of certain actions during a game.

surprising actions

Refers to actions that provoke surprise during a performance.

upsetting performance

Highlights a performance that causes distress or disappointment.

emotional performance

Shifts the focus to the display of emotion during a performance or game.

disrupt the game

Emphasizes how something interferes with the normal flow of the game.

disturb the match

Focuses on disrupting the match.

emotional outbursts

This refers to a sudden display of strong feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "upsets play" in a sentence correctly?

The phrase "upsets play" is not grammatically correct. Consider using alternatives such as "unexpected plays" or "surprising actions" to describe unexpected events in a game.

What's a better way to say "upsets play"?

Instead of "upsets play", you could say "unexpected plays", "surprising plays", or "emotional performance" depending on the context.

Is "upsets play" grammatically sound?

No, "upsets play" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to use clearer and more conventional phrasing.

Which phrase is correct: "upsets play" or "unexpected plays"?

"Unexpected plays" is correct. "Upsets play" is not a recognized or grammatically sound phrase.