abolish the ceiling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abolish the ceiling" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts discussing the removal of limits or restrictions, such as in economic or social discussions. For example: "The activists called to abolish the ceiling on wage increases." Alternative expressions include "remove the cap" and "eliminate the limit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It would be even better, as I argued in 2011, for Congress to just abolish the ceiling entirely, though that's probably a bridge too far.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Increasing or abolishing the ceiling on earned income subject to Federal Insurance Contributions Act, or F.I.C.A., contributions would alone finance Social Security in perpetuity, and the rate may even be lowered after the baby boom generation passes through the system.

The New York Times

His intervention followed an uncomfortable two days in which the Tories exploited his initial reluctance to rule out changes to the NI ceiling.Although Mr Brown stopped short of pledging that he would not abolish the NI ceiling, his words would surely haunt him if he were to do that in office.

The Economist

Would he be willing to talk if Boehner agreed to abolish the debt ceiling permanently?

The New Yorker

The move is prompted by the government's draft Gambling Bill that is expected to abolish the current ceiling on slot machine jackpots.

The Guardian - Money

"Let's abolish the debt ceiling, and if people think we're spending too much money, vote to spend less money," he said.

Los Angeles Times

Yes, that means Washington should abolish the public debt ceiling – get rid of it and be done with it – for good.

Forbes

"Anyone who believes hitting the Davies targets abolished the glass ceiling is misguided," she said.

The Guardian

And that's one reason why, unfortunately, I don't think we'll be abolishing the debt ceiling any time soon.

The New Yorker

If tomorrow Congress passed a clean continuing resolution and abolished the debt ceiling I suspect equities would have a pretty darn good day.But by focusing on the effects of the worst-possible-thing-that-could-happen without much regard to whether expectations of the WPTTCH actually occurring have changed, we may all have lost some perspective on the dynamic in Washington.

The Economist

The government has eased overseas travel restrictions, loosened pay ceilings for baseball players, promised to abolish the dual-currency system and ended controls on car sales.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advocating for the removal of limitations, use "abolish the ceiling" to clearly communicate your intention to eliminate restrictions and promote open possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "abolish the ceiling" when the intended meaning is to simply raise or adjust a limit. "Abolish" implies complete removal, not modification. Use "raise the ceiling" instead if you want to increase the limit, not eliminate it entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abolish the ceiling" functions as a verb phrase expressing a call to action or a proposed solution to a problem involving limitations. Based on Ludwig's analysis, it suggests the complete removal of a restriction rather than a simple adjustment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abolish the ceiling" is a grammatically sound and effective way to advocate for the complete removal of a limit or restriction. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news and formal business contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. Alternatives such as "eliminate the limit" or "remove the cap" offer similar meanings, but "abolish the ceiling" carries a specific connotation of absolute removal, as detailed in the usage examples and linguistic analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Eliminate the limit

Focuses on removing a specific restriction or maximum value.

Remove the cap

Implies taking away an upper boundary or restriction.

Repeal the restriction

Highlights the formal act of revoking a rule or constraint.

Lift the barrier

Suggests removing an obstacle that prevents progress or access.

Scrap the limit

Emphasizes the complete removal and discarding of a limitation.

Axe the restriction

Uses a more forceful term to convey the elimination of a rule.

Nullify the upper bound

Focuses on rendering a maximum value ineffective or invalid.

Revoke the constraint

Underscores the act of officially canceling or reversing a limitation.

Do away with the limit

Indicates getting rid of a rule or restriction.

Overturn the restriction

Highlights the action of reversing or invalidating a previously established limit.

FAQs

What does "abolish the ceiling" mean?

The phrase "abolish the ceiling" means to completely remove or eliminate an upper limit or restriction. It suggests a desire to get rid of any constraints that are in place.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "abolish the ceiling"?

It's appropriate to use "abolish the ceiling" when you want to advocate for the total removal of a limit, such as a debt ceiling or a cap on investments. It indicates a desire to create a situation without restrictions.

What are some alternatives to saying "abolish the ceiling"?

You can use alternatives like "eliminate the limit", "remove the cap", or "repeal the restriction" depending on the context.

How does "abolish the ceiling" differ from "raise the ceiling"?

"Abolish the ceiling" implies complete removal of the limit, while "raise the ceiling" means to increase the limit but still maintain its existence. They have opposite implications.