Used to introduce a negative aspect or disadvantage of an idea, plan, or option.
“The drawback is that the repair shop is downtown, which means a long drive.”
“The drawback is we'd have to reschedule the whole meeting.”
In Listening Part 1, speakers often weigh options before deciding what to do, so listen for this phrase to catch the disadvantage one of them raises. It's frequently followed by 'but' or a positive point, signaling a full pros-and-cons discussion. Recognizing this phrase helps you correctly identify which speaker opposes an idea and why.
Synonyms: the downside is, the disadvantage is, the catch is