harbor reservations

Meaning

To 'harbor reservations' means to possess or hold onto secret doubts, hesitations, or concerns about a plan, decision, or person. In a business context, it implies that someone is skeptical or uneasy about an initiative but might not have voiced their concerns fully yet. It is a formal, polite way to describe skepticism.

Examples

• While I agree with the overall strategy, I still harbor reservations about the aggressive timeline.

  While I agree with the overall strategy, I still harbor reservations about the aggressive timeline.

• Several board members harbor reservations regarding the financial stability of the acquisition target.

  Several board members harbor reservations regarding the financial stability of the acquisition target.

• If you harbor any reservations about the contract terms, please raise them before the signing ceremony.

  If you harbor any reservations about the contract terms, please raise them before the signing ceremony.

• Despite his public endorsement, rumors suggest the CFO continues to harbor reservations about the merger.

  Despite his public endorsement, rumors suggest the CFO continues to harbor reservations about the merger.

• She harbored deep reservations about outsourcing customer service to an external agency.

  She harbored deep reservations about outsourcing customer service to an external agency.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I harbor reservations for the new software.

  ✓ I harbor reservations about the new software.

  Use the prepositions 'about' or 'regarding' to connect your reservations to the subject, not 'for'.

• ✗ He has some harbors of reservation.

  ✓ He harbors some reservations.

  'Harbor' acts as the verb and 'reservations' as the plural noun in this idiom. Do not nominalize 'harbor' in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Many employees still ___ about the new hybrid work policy, fearing it will hurt productivity.

  💡 hold private doubts

  Show answer

  harbor reservations

• If you ___ regarding the budget allocation, we should address them during today's meeting.

  💡 possess concerns

  Show answer

  harbor reservations