Phrasal verbs "hit upon" vs "thrust upon"

Differences between hit upon and thrust upon

Hit upon means to discover or come up with something by chance or accident, while thrust upon means to force someone to accept or deal with something they don't want.

Meanings and Definitions: hit upon vs thrust upon

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Hit upon

  • 1Have an idea.

    It took us ages to HIT UPON a solution.

  • 2Try to attract someone sexually.

    He tried to HIT UPON her at the pub.

Thrust upon

  • 1To force someone to accept or deal with a responsibility or task, often unexpectedly.

    But some have greatness thrust upon them and Gove is looking increasingly as if the crown would fit.

Usage Examples: hit upon, thrust upon in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

hit upon

Example

She hit upon a great idea for her new business.

Example

He hits upon a solution to the problem after hours of brainstorming.

thrust upon

Example

The responsibility was thrust upon her when her boss suddenly quit.

Example

He thrusts upon her the task of organizing the event.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hit upon

To find or discover something unexpectedly or accidentally.

Example

While hiking in the woods, we stumbled upon a hidden waterfall.

To find or encounter something by chance or accident.

Example

I came across an old photo album while cleaning out my closet.

To find or discover something by luck or coincidence.

Example

She chanced upon a rare book at a garage sale for only a few dollars.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Thrust upon

To force someone to accept or deal with something they don't want.

Example

He imposed on his friend by asking to borrow money again.

To force someone to accept or deal with something unwanted or unpleasant.

Example

The boss foisted extra work on her team without any warning or compensation.

To burden or impose something unwanted or difficult on someone.

Example

The company saddled him with a project that was beyond his expertise and experience.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “upon”

Differences in hit upon vs thrust upon: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: hit upon or thrust upon?

In daily conversation, people use hit upon more often than thrust upon. This is because hit upon is used for more positive situations such as discovering a great idea or solution. Thrust upon is not used as much and has a negative connotation. It's mainly used when we're talking about forcing someone to do something they don't want to do. So, while both phrases are used, hit upon is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of hit upon and thrust upon

Hit upon and thrust upon are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of hit upon and thrust upon

The tone of hit upon and thrust upon can differ based on context. Hit upon often carries a surprised or excited tone when related to discovering something new or unexpected, while thrust upon typically has a negative and forceful tone, especially when referring to imposing something on someone else.

hit upon & thrust upon: Synonyms and Antonyms

Hit upon

Synonyms

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