almost brought down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost brought down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something was very close to being defeated, destroyed, or significantly impacted. Example: "The unexpected storm almost brought down the entire power grid, leaving thousands without electricity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

A T-shirt almost brought down Pink Floyd.

The Guardian - Music

People in this army were thugs and murderers who almost brought down Western civilization".

The New York Times

THE collapse of Lehman Brothers, a sprawling global bank, in September 2008 almost brought down the world's financial system.

The Economist

In September 2008 the failure of once-stellar Lehman Brothers almost brought down the world's banking system.

The Economist

The affair threatened to discredit the whole United Nations system and almost brought down Kofi Annan, its then boss.

The Economist

Dexia, the Franco-Belgian bank almost brought down by its Greek bonds, said it lost €11.6bn in 2011.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

How could a small-time trader of limited means help to almost bring down one of the world's biggest and most liquid financial markets?

The New Yorker

In "Step Brothers," Brennan and Dale almost bring down the house by clinging to a delayed adolescence that makes them seem angry rather than playful and joyous.

The New York Times

The Eurosceptic heroes of the time were the 22 Conservative MPs who rebelled against the Maastricht bill in May 1992, almost bringing down the government.

The Guardian

Ms. Hill delivers a posturing aria of hip-hop speak that almost brings down the house, while Ms. Beerman displays touching poise, Rene's maturity a counterweight to Colette's breathless zeal.

The New York Times

That the voice of Eartha Kitt ("Santa Baby") accompanies a sheerly insane conga line in a second-act opener that almost brings down the tent does not mean intentions have strayed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost brought down", ensure the subject is something significant like an organization, system, or entity. Avoid using it for minor or insignificant events to maintain appropriate impact.

Common error

Avoid using "almost brought down" when the situation did not pose a genuine threat of collapse or significant damage. Overusing the phrase dilutes its impact and can make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost brought down" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action that nearly resulted in the downfall or collapse of something. It typically describes situations where a system, organization, or entity narrowly avoided complete failure. Ludwig AI states it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Books

4%

Opinion

4%

Arts

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost brought down" is a commonly used verb phrase that effectively conveys a near-failure or collapse scenario. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. It’s most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts to emphasize the precariousness of a situation and highlight the severity of a threat. When using the phrase, ensure the context warrants such a strong depiction and avoid overstating the impact if the threat was not genuinely severe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly toppled

Emphasizes the instability and close proximity to falling over or being overthrown.

nearly caused the collapse of

Highlights the potential for a complete breakdown or disintegration.

almost triggered the downfall of

Focuses on the action that nearly led to a significant decline or ruin.

came close to destroying

Indicates that something narrowly avoided being completely ruined or eradicated.

threatened to undermine

Suggests a risk of weakening or destabilizing something.

verged on collapsing

Implies a state of being on the brink of failure or disintegration.

narrowly averted the failure of

Stresses that something barely avoided a complete lack of success or functionality.

was on the verge of ruining

Highlights the proximity to a state of complete disrepair or destruction.

came within inches of dismantling

Emphasizes the closeness to a state of non-existence or non-operability.

threatened to destabilize

Emphasizes the potential to disrupt the equilibrium or stability of something.

FAQs

What does "almost brought down" mean?

The phrase "almost brought down" means something came very close to causing the failure, collapse, or destruction of something else. It implies a near-disaster scenario.

What are some alternatives to "almost brought down"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly toppled", "nearly caused the collapse of", or "came close to destroying" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "almost brought down"?

Yes, "almost brought down" is grammatically correct. The word "almost" modifies the verb phrase "brought down", indicating that an action nearly happened.

How to use "almost brought down" in a sentence?

You can use "almost brought down" to describe a situation where something was on the brink of failure. For example: "The financial crisis almost brought down the banking system".