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Glite Dictionary
to raise the spectre

to raise the spectre

4 7.7
To say that something bad might happen
  • idiom
  • /reɪz ðə ˈspɛktər/
  • UK
: hacer surgir el espectro
  • Both also raised the specter of crime, specifically home break-ins, a wave of which is a current neighborhood hot topic.

He engages in so much innuendo trying to raise the specter that she's working at the behest of the CIA.

Examples

  • As a result, large-scale land acquisitions inherently raised the specter of conflict with dispossessed communities.

    Blog text (28)

  • If Rhode Island had been excluded by the others from the drafting convention, it would plausibly raise the specter of secessionism.

    Academic text (2016)

  • One might first raise the specter of judicial review by the Supreme Court.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The client in the divorce scenario might also be successful in her suit against the lawyer, raising the specter of potentially severe liability.

    Academic text (1997)

  • A finding of either typhoidal or pneumonic tularemia, especially in an urban setting, would raise the specter of an act of bioterrorism.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Sadr's uprising in April-May 2004 raised the specter of a broad-based insurgency against the coalition.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Left unchecked, Serbian aggression could advance to Kosovo and Macedonia, raising the specter of broader interstate conflagration.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Given the backstory of the Jews—and the AAA—one might be excused for raising the specter of anti-Semitism.

    Academic text (2016)

  • When tribal hearings raised the specter of the golf course—and even a NASCAR track—their tempers flared.

    Academic text (2002)

  • A recent outbreak of disease has raised the spectre of a public health emergency.

Synonyms

to raise red flag
vsto raise the spectre
3 4.6

To signal that there may be a problem or danger

suggests a possible worrying outcome more than openly signalling danger
to ring a warning bell
vsto raise the spectre
  • Informal
5.4

Make someone think there may be a problem

mentions or suggests the possibility rather than just causing private concern
to sound a warning bell
vsto raise the spectre
4.3

To warn people about a possible danger or serious problem

suggests a possible bad event without actively warning others

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to dismiss
332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

How Worrying

to raise the spectre
  • UK
4 7.7
to hint
136 2.0

Surface Forms

raise the spectre infinitive
raised the spectre past
raised the spectre past participle
raising the spectre present participle
raises the spectre third person singular

Morphology

raise + the + specter

The meaning 'to mention or suggest a worrying possibility' is directly derivable from combining 'raise' (to bring up) with 'spectre' (a haunting fear or threat); a learner who knows those constituents can infer that one is 'bringing up' a fear or danger. Although slightly metaphorical and somewhat literary, the image of a 'spectre' as a looming worry is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, making the construction compositionally transparent for learners who know the words.

Etymology

Raise the spectre comes from the image of raise and spectre, where 'spectre' means a 'ghost' and 'raise' means to bring it up so people see it and feel fear. That's why the phrase now means to mention an idea that makes people worry about a possible bad thing.