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foregone

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foregone conclusion

An inevitable result. After how poorly the team has played so far this season, it's a foregone conclusion that they won't make it to the championship.

See also: conclusion, foregone

foregone conclusion

Cliché a conclusion already reached; an inevitable result. That the company was moving to California was a foregone conclusion. That the mayor will win reelection is a foregone conclusion.

See also: conclusion, foregone

a foregone conclusion

a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens (not used with the ) It seems like this year's election results are a foregone conclusion. (often + that ) It's certainly not a foregone conclusion that we'll win.

See also: conclusion, foregone

foregone conclusion, a

1. An outcome regarded as inevitable, as in The victory was a foregone conclusion.

2. A conclusion formed in advance of argument or consideration, as in The jury was warned to consider all of the evidence and not base their decision on a foregone conclusion . This idiom probably was invented by Shakespeare ( Othello, 3:3) but scholars are not agreed as to his precise meaning. [c. 1600]

See also: foregone