waste an opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "waste an opportunity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of not taking advantage of a chance or possibility that could have been beneficial. Example: "He regretted that he chose to stay home instead of attending the conference, realizing he had wasted an opportunity to network with industry leaders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

She doesn't waste an opportunity like that.

The New York Times

If you don't, you waste an opportunity.

The New York Times - Sports

"And next year, Detroit!" (He also didn't waste an opportunity to riff on awards season topics.

The New York Times

David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, is not one to waste an opportunity.

The New York Times

It would also waste an opportunity to use various strategies to multiply the gift.

The New York Times

The home side cannot afford to waste an opportunity like this.

The Telegraph

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

"We were wasting an opportunity".

The New York Times - Sports

Sadly, Sony wasted an opportunity to release such a companion CD.

The Guardian - Music

Britten never wastes an opportunity to express his disgust for Brahms.

The Guardian - Music

Outside the remote island nation, there is a sense that it has wasted an opportunity.

The Guardian

Thereafter, McCain seldom wasted an opportunity to extol his own patriotism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "waste an opportunity", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. "Waste" implies a lack of appreciation or a poor decision in not taking advantage of the chance. Choose synonyms like "miss", "squander", or "lose" if they better fit the context.

Common error

While "waste an opportunity" is generally acceptable, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. In formal writing, consider varying your phrasing with more sophisticated synonyms like "forgo a chance" or "fail to capitalize on a possibility" to enhance clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "waste an opportunity" functions as a verb phrase. It typically serves as the predicate of a clause, describing an action or inaction that results in a missed chance or lost potential benefit. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is common and usable in various writing contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "waste an opportunity" is a versatile phrase denoting the failure to capitalize on a beneficial chance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. While generally appropriate, varying your phrasing with synonyms like "miss an opportunity" or "squander an opportunity" can enhance clarity and impact, particularly in formal writing. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media and is considered to have neutral tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

miss an opportunity

Focuses on the failure to seize a chance, without necessarily implying a loss of value.

squander an opportunity

Suggests a reckless or foolish waste of a valuable chance.

lose an opportunity

Implies that the chance is gone and cannot be recovered.

forgo an opportunity

Suggests a deliberate decision to pass up a chance, often for a specific reason.

pass up an opportunity

Similar to 'forgo', but may also imply negligence or oversight.

fail to capitalize on an opportunity

Emphasizes the lack of success in leveraging a chance to one's advantage.

not exploit an opportunity

Highlights a failure to take full advantage of a chance, often with implications of self-interest.

neglect an opportunity

Suggests carelessness or indifference in missing a chance.

let an opportunity slip

Focuses on the unintentional nature of missing a chance.

drop the ball on an opportunity

An idiomatic phrase suggesting a blunder or mistake that led to the loss of a chance.

FAQs

What does it mean to "waste an opportunity"?

To "waste an opportunity" means to not take advantage of a chance or possibility that could have been beneficial. It implies that the chance was not used effectively or was completely ignored, resulting in a loss or missed benefit.

How can I use "waste an opportunity" in a sentence?

You can use "waste an opportunity" in sentences like: "He realized he "wasted an opportunity" to network at the conference", or "The team "wasted an opportunity" to score in the first half".

What are some alternatives to "waste an opportunity"?

Alternatives to "waste an opportunity" include phrases like "miss an opportunity", "squander an opportunity", or "lose an opportunity". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "miss an opportunity" or "waste an opportunity"?

Both "miss an opportunity" and "waste an opportunity" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Miss an opportunity" simply means failing to take advantage of a chance, while "waste an opportunity" implies a degree of negligence or a poor decision in not using the chance effectively.