a passing success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passing success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a success that is temporary or not substantial, often implying that it may not last or have a significant impact. Example: "The event was a passing success, drawing a crowd but failing to generate lasting interest in the cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

Lifestyle

Encyclopedias

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet I'm all too aware that a diet is a passing success.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A number of later works achieved passing success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In fact, their passing success rate is the fourth lowest any team has had in a Premier League match this season.

BBC

The quality of his distribution is also reflected by his 86% passing success rate.

The Guardian - Sport

A better strategy, albeit one that requires a bit more work, is to recalibrate your plan every year to determine the maximum withdrawal percentage while maintaining the same passing success percentage.

Forbes

That's reflected in a pass success rate of over 90 per cent this season.

Independent

Statistics show he has a pass success rate of above 90 per cent in the three Champions League games he has played this season.

Independent

Gunners' fans may be concerned when you compare this to his record out wide so far this season, where he is yet to score or assist and has a pass success of a low 82%.

Independent

First pass success with laryngoscopy should be a benchmark of quality and patient safety in emergency airway management.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Improvements were seen in all primary measures of advanced airway success: ultimate endotracheal intubation success, first pass success, combined first and second pass success, success to total attempt ratios, mean attempts, and incidence of supraglottic device use.

BioMed Research International

Furthermore rapid sequence induction protocols appear to improve first pass success of prehospital providers [ 10– 16], as does video laryngoscopy, especially with respect to difficult airways [ 17, 18].

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a passing success" to describe situations where an initial positive outcome doesn't translate into long-term benefits or significant change.

Common error

Avoid using "a passing success" when the outcome has a lasting impact; instead, opt for stronger terms like "significant achievement" or "major breakthrough" if the success is substantial and enduring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing success" functions as a noun phrase where "passing" is an adjective modifying the noun "success". It describes a success that is not enduring or significant. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a passing success" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe an achievement that is temporary or lacks significant impact. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for use in written English to qualify the nature of a success. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science. While the phrase is not very common, related phrases like "fleeting triumph" or "brief success" can offer similar meanings. When using "a passing success", it's important to consider whether the situation genuinely warrants the term's implication of limited and non-enduring achievement. Overstating the significance of a truly lasting impact would be a misuse of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fleeting triumph

Emphasizes the briefness of the success.

Momentary victory

Highlights the short-lived nature of the achievement.

Brief success

Directly indicates the limited duration of the success.

Short-lived win

Focuses on the temporary aspect of the win or success.

Limited achievement

Highlights the restricted scope or impact of the achievement.

Marginal victory

Implies that the victory or success was achieved by a narrow margin or was of little consequence.

Superficial success

Suggests that the success is only on the surface and lacks depth or substance.

Modest accomplishment

Indicates a small or limited degree of success.

Token success

Emphasizes that the success is symbolic or insignificant.

Temporary upturn

Focuses on the transient improvement or positive change.

FAQs

How can I use "a passing success" in a sentence?

You can use "a passing success" to describe something that initially seems positive but ultimately lacks long-term impact. For example, "The diet was "a passing success", but the weight returned quickly."

What are some alternatives to "a passing success"?

Alternatives include "fleeting triumph", "momentary victory", or "brief success", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a passing success" a positive or negative term?

"A passing success" is generally neutral to slightly negative, implying that the success is temporary or insignificant. It acknowledges some level of achievement but suggests it's not sustained.

What's the difference between "a passing success" and "a resounding success"?

"A passing success" implies a temporary or limited achievement, whereas "a resounding success" indicates a clear, unambiguous, and significant victory.