Liable vs Prone to all manner of perversions

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Liable

FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1adjective

Prone to all manner of perversions

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Liable
 LiableProne to all manner of perversions
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪəbl/"]/🇬🇧 //prəʊn tʊ ɔːl ˈmænə əv pəˈvɜːʒənz//🇺🇸 //proʊn tʊ ɔl ˈmænər əv pərˈvɜrʒənz//
MeaningResponsible for something, especially bad.Likely to have many kinds of deviant behaviors.
ExampleThe company is liable for any damages caused by its products.He is prone to all manner of perversions, often surprising those who know him.
RegisterFormalFormal
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, become, remain, strictly, fully, potentially, forprone to sin, prone to errors, prone to temptation, prone to criticism, prone to addiction
Antonymsinnocent, blameless, exempt-
Common mistakesConfusing 'liable' with 'libel'., Using 'liable' without the correct preposition., 'Liable' is often misused in colloquial speech.Confused with 'open to' - perversions imply negative behavior, while open can be neutral., Omitting 'all manner of' - it emphasizes the variety of perversions., Using 'prone' incorrectly with positive traits.
Usage notesUsed in legal contexts to indicate responsibility. Avoid in casual conversations. Often means someone can be held accountable for their actions.Use in serious contexts, especially when discussing moral issues. Avoid in casual conversations.

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Liable
Prone to all manner of perversions

Frequently asked questions: Liable vs Prone to all manner of perversions

What's the difference between Liable and Prone to all manner of perversions?

Liable: Responsible for something, especially bad. Prone to all manner of perversions: Likely to have many kinds of deviant behaviors.

Which is more common: Liable and Prone to all manner of perversions?

Liable is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Liable: The company is liable for any damages caused by its products. Prone to all manner of perversions: He is prone to all manner of perversions, often surprising those who know him.

Can I use Liable and Prone to all manner of perversions interchangeably?

Not always. Liable and Prone to all manner of perversions are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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