Meaning & use
divided opinion
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Meaning
phraseuncountable
A situation in which people disagree strongly about something, so there is no clear majority view.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase: 'There is divided opinion on this.' It is not used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- divided opinion on something
- divided opinion over something
- there is divided opinion
There is divided opinion on whether to build the new airport.
The proposal caused divided opinion among the committee members.
Opinion remains divided over the best way to teach reading.
Common combinations
- divided opinion on
- Divided opinion on the new law has slowed down the vote.
- divided opinion over
- There is divided opinion over how much homework children should get.
- cause divided opinion
- The film caused divided opinion among critics.
- remain divided
- Opinion remains divided on the issue of tax cuts.
- deeply divided opinion
- The country has deeply divided opinion about the war.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disagreement
- Disagreement is a general word for any difference of opinion; divided opinion suggests a whole group is split, often with strong feelings.
- split opinion
- Split opinion is very similar but slightly more informal and often used in news reports.
Opposites
Commonly confused: divided opinion or divided?
divided opinion vs divided
Divided alone means separated into parts; divided opinion is a fixed phrase meaning people disagree.
Practice
There is divided opinion _____ the new shopping center.
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition is 'on' when talking about a topic of disagreement: 'divided opinion on the new shopping center.' 'In' is used for places, 'at' for points, and 'for' would mean in favor of something, which does not fit here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “divided opinion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.