English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Prone to
Meaning
The idiom "prone to" means more likely or inclined to do something, especially something negative or harmful. It describes a person who is susceptible to certain conditions, diseases, or circumstances that may affect their health or wellbeing. Example usage: She's prone to migraines during stressful situations.
Usage
- He's prone to making impulsive decisions without thinking them through.
- The old house is prone to creaking and groaning at night.
- The city is prone to flooding due to its low-lying location.
- Some people are prone to allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.
- She's prone to bouts of depression when she's feeling overwhelmed. The usage of "prone to" can vary depending on the context. It can be used to describe a person's inherent tendency or inclination, as well as their susceptibility to certain conditions or circumstances.
Roots and History
The idiom "prone to" has its origins in Old English, where it meant "leaning towards." Over time, the meaning of the phrase evolved to include a sense of inclination or tendency, and eventually came to be used as an idiom for describing a person's susceptibility to certain conditions.
Synonyms in English
- Liable to
- Tendency to
- Predisposition to
- Susceptible to
- Given to
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish - "habitualmente" (habitually)
- French - "prédisposé à" (predisposed to)
- Italian - "suscepibile a" (susceptible to)
- German - "vorhersehbar" (foreseeable)
- Russian - "наклонен к" (inclined towards)