foregone conclusion
14
3.7
- noun
- /fɔrˈɡoʊn kənˈkluːʒən/
- Informal
:
conclusión inevitable
- Without the checks and balances built into democratic government over the centuries, the results are a foregone conclusion.
I mean, all this information I'm reading, it's a foregone conclusion that XY and Z.
- I mean, all this information I'm reading, it's a foregone conclusion that XY and Z.
- But I, I want to, I really think that people on the NFT thing right now, the macro technology is a foregone conclusion.
Examples
-
Both states struggled through the implementation of heterodox programs, and success was never a foregone conclusion.
Academic text (1994) -
If the preliminary vote is any indication, the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
Academic text (2016) -
This is not a foregone conclusion.
-
Nothing here is a foregone conclusion.
-
After the bill passed out of committee on April 7th, we knew the end result was a foregone conclusion.
Academic text (2010) -
Most of the talk is that a war with Iran is a foregone conclusion.
Blog text (15) -
His reelection every two years was a foregone conclusion.
-
The emergence of a new form of Christian apostolate is a foregone conclusion.
Academic text (2007) -
At that time, it was considered a "foregone conclusion" that computer-driven audiometry would supplant manual audiometry.
Academic text (2001) -
Everyone believes that the election results are a foregone conclusion due to the overwhelming support for the candidate.
Synonyms
202
3.4
A strong feeling that something is true or will happen
77
2.4
Something that is certain to happen or succeed
29
5.8
Something that cannot be avoided and will happen
1
5.3
An event that cannot be avoided
A state where something is certain to happen and cannot be avoided
Antonyms
How Certain
- Informal
14
3.7
16
6.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'foregone' (predetermined, certain) with 'conclusion' (a result or judgment), so its meaning 'a result that is certain to happen' is directly derivable from the constituent words. Although somewhat formal, the composition follows normal English semantics and would be understandable to a B1 learner who already knows both words.
Etymology
Foregone conclusion comes from the idea that foregone literally means 'gone before' and conclusion means 'end', like a result that has already walked ahead and finished. So the phrase means 'a result that is certain to happen'.