How to use "a ulterior motive"

What Does "a ulterior motive" Mean?

• Meaning of the collocation or phrasal verb "A ulterior motive" signifies a hidden, often self-serving, reason for doing something. It implies that the stated or apparent reason is not the real or complete explanation for someone's actions.
• Whether meaning is compositional or semi-idiomatic The meaning is largely compositional. "Ulterior" means hidden or beyond what is obvious, and "motive" means a reason for doing something. The combination creates a clear, understandable meaning.
• Register: formal / informal / neutral The register is neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for professional, academic, and general contexts.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: adjective + noun
• Typical objects, complements, or prepositions that follow The phrase often appears with verbs such as have, suspect, believe, or reveal. It can be followed by prepositions like behind or for, clarifying what the hidden motive relates to.
• Can the components be separated? (for phrasal verbs) This is not a phrasal verb; the components are not separable.
• What sounds unnatural: wrong verb, wrong preposition, wrong object Using a verb that doesn't suggest suspicion or discovery (e.g., "enjoy a ulterior motive") sounds unnatural. Similarly, incorrect prepositions or objects that don't logically connect to the motive (e.g., "a ulterior motive with the weather") would be incorrect.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from a ulterior motive on Ludwig.guru.

"I suspect he might have a ulterior motive for helping us." — Fictional News Source

"The company insisted the donation was purely altruistic, but some suspected a ulterior motive related to tax benefits." — Business Journal

"Her sudden interest in my project seemed genuine, but I couldn't shake the feeling she had a ulterior motive." — Literary Magazine

"The politician's support for the bill was met with skepticism, with many believing he had a ulterior motive connected to his campaign donors." — Political Analysis Website

"The detective suspected the witness was withholding information and had a ulterior motive for misleading the investigation." — Crime Fiction Blog

"Analysts believe the acquisition has a ulterior motive to corner the market." — Financial Times Archive

"The organization denies having a ulterior motive, stating their only goal is to protect the environment." — Environmental News Outlet

"The government's sudden interest in funding the arts was viewed with suspicion, some suspecting a ulterior motive related to public image." — Arts and Culture Review

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/a+ulterior+motive

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
hidden agenda	Implies a secret plan or goal; slightly more informal.
private intention	More neutral and less accusatory; emphasizes secrecy.
secret reason	A straightforward alternative, less formal.
ulterior purpose	A direct synonym, using a different noun.
self-serving motive	Highlights the selfish nature of the hidden reason.
unspoken agenda	Suggests the motive is not explicitly stated but understood.
underlying reason	Focuses on the fundamental but not immediately obvious cause.

Common Mistakes

• Using incorrect adjectives with "motive" (e.g., "a happy motive," "a colorful motive") sounds nonsensical. The adjective must relate to concealment or secrecy.
• Confusing "ulterior" with similar-sounding words like "interior" or "exterior" is a common error.
• Using the wrong preposition or object to specify the nature of the motive makes the sentence unclear or grammatically incorrect (e.g., "a ulterior motive for happiness" is less clear than "a ulterior motive for supporting the bill").

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
a ulterior motive	A hidden or secret reason for doing something.	adjective + noun	Neutral to slightly formal

FAQs

Can the words in "a ulterior motive" be separated? For example, can you say "a motive that is ulterior"?

No, the phrase "a ulterior motive" functions as a fixed expression. While you could rephrase the sentence to explain the concept (e.g., "a motive that is ulterior"), the collocation itself should remain intact. Separating the words disrupts the established usage.

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How is "a ulterior motive" different from "a hidden agenda"?

Both phrases imply a secret reason, but "a ulterior motive" focuses on the reason behind an action, while "a hidden agenda" suggests a secret plan or goal. A hidden agenda often involves multiple steps and strategies, whereas an ulterior motive is simply the concealed reason.

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What's the correction for the common mistake of confusing "ulterior" with other words?

"Ulterior" means hidden or beyond what is evident. If you mistakenly use a word like "interior," which refers to the inside of something, the sentence will be nonsensical. Always remember that "ulterior" specifically relates to hidden motives or reasons. Using words like 'interior' or 'exterior' in place of 'ulterior' is incorrect in this context.