was foreign to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was foreign to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unfamiliar or strange to someone or something. Example: "The concept of meditation was foreign to her until she attended the workshop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Money was foreign to me".

The New York Times

The Aztec system was foreign to them.

The New York Times

It was foreign to my ears.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet firefighting was foreign to us.

The New York Times

There was a quota, which was foreign to me.

The Guardian - Music

Everything about civilian life was foreign to me".

The New York Times - Books

The notion of "loyal opposition" was foreign to him.

The Guardian

In 1990 he became an emeritus fellow, but retirement was foreign to him.

The Guardian - Arts

Such nimble exploitation of a fast-moving market opportunity was foreign to the old I.B.M.

The New York Times

Self-questioning was foreign to him; he knew who he was and reveled in it.

The New York Times - Books

His credo had to be that nothing in boxing was foreign to him".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was foreign to" to clearly indicate that a concept, experience, or object was unfamiliar to someone at a specific point in time. For example, "The idea of remote work was foreign to many companies before the pandemic."

Common error

Avoid using "foreign for" when you mean "was foreign to". "Foreign for" typically implies something is intended for a foreign country, while "was foreign to" expresses unfamiliarity. For example, instead of saying "That concept is foreign for me", say "That concept was foreign to me".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was foreign to" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject's lack of familiarity or experience with something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It essentially expresses that a concept, place, or experience was unknown or alien to someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was foreign to" effectively conveys a sense of unfamiliarity or lack of prior experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and commonly used expression across various writing styles. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news and media, where it often describes novel or unexpected situations. Remember to avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases like "foreign for", which have different meanings. Use "was foreign to" to clearly indicate that something was unknown or alien to someone at a particular time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unfamiliar with

Emphasizes a lack of prior experience or knowledge.

was unacquainted with

Highlights a lack of personal experience or introduction to something.

was alien to

Implies something is strange, out of place, or incompatible.

was new to

Focuses on the novelty and recent introduction to something.

had no experience with

Directly states a lack of prior practical involvement.

had never encountered

Highlights the absence of any prior interaction or exposure.

was not conversant with

Indicates a lack of detailed or specialized knowledge.

did not know about

Simply states a lack of awareness or information.

was ignorant of

Suggests a lack of awareness, often implying a need for education.

was outside my ken

Indicates something beyond one's range of knowledge or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "was foreign to" in a sentence?

Use "was foreign to" to express that something was unfamiliar or unknown to someone. For example, "The concept of cryptocurrency "was foreign to" her until she started researching it."

What are some alternatives to "was foreign to"?

You can use alternatives like "was unfamiliar with", "was new to", or "was alien to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was foreign for" instead of "was foreign to"?

No, "was foreign for" is not typically used to express unfamiliarity. "Was foreign to" is the correct phrase when indicating that something was unknown or unfamiliar.

What's the difference between "was foreign to" and "was unusual for"?

"Was foreign to" indicates complete unfamiliarity, while "was unusual for" implies something is out of the ordinary but not necessarily unknown. For example, "Classical music "was foreign to" him" versus "Rain in July was unusual for the desert region."