begin to squander

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begin to squander" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of starting to waste resources, time, or opportunities. Example: "If we don't manage our budget wisely, we may begin to squander our savings on unnecessary expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Amazingly, at the same time, its opponents begin to squander opportunities and make dunderheaded moves; the ball begins to bounce fortuitously; and the officials start seeing the game through fairy-dust-clouded eyes.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But Fante had begun to squander his energies on screenwriting, often in collaboration with other writers.

The New York Times - Books

Simone de Beauvoir was forced to recognise, too, that many years earlier he had begun to squander the physical resources she was trying so hard to shore up.

The Guardian

It coincided, instead, with the continued rise of the United States and the descent of the Soviet Union, until about 2000, when we relentlessly began to squander our power again, in the fruitless and pointless pursuit of renewing our honor and credibility in the face of a national insult.

The New Yorker

We will begin to talk about how the promise of Tahrir Square has been squandered by the chaotic and corrupt governments the brave people on the street propelled into office.

The New York Times

The president, Mr. Boehner said, appears intent on squandering "a golden opportunity to make 2013 the year that we enact fundamental tax reform and entitlement reform to begin to solve our country's debt problem and, frankly, revenue problem".

The New York Times

If he left right away, without squandering his popularity to the end, he might yet come back in a fully democratic way — when the crisis hits the living standard, people will begin to talk nostalgically of the "fat years".

The New York Times

Countries we don't even acknowledge as serious competitors are beginning to outpace us in some vital areas as we squander our long-held advantage.

Forbes

However, it was the home side who began to take control and Murphy and Stevie Hammell both squandered chances before the breakthrough finally came.

BBC

To spite him, after squandering the first years of freedom in euphoria, I began to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

The Guardian - Books

The timing was particularly encouraging: India's labour force was due to soar as China's began to decline (see chart 1).Now many are worried that India is squandering this demographic opportunity.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "begin to squander" when you want to emphasize the starting point of a wasteful process, suggesting a gradual decline or mismanagement of resources.

Common error

While acceptable, "begin to squander" can sometimes sound overly dramatic or formal. Consider simpler alternatives like "start to waste" in casual settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begin to squander" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of wasteful behavior. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase. It specifies the commencement of an action that leads to the depletion of resources or opportunities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "begin to squander" is a verb phrase that denotes the starting point of wasteful behavior or the mismanagement of resources. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. While grammatically sound and acceptable, it's more suitable for neutral to formal contexts and may sound overly dramatic in casual settings. Its purpose is often to warn against or criticize the initial phase of a negative process, and its frequency is classified as uncommon, primarily appearing in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start to waste

Focuses on the commencement of wasting resources without necessarily implying recklessness.

commence to dissipate

More formal and emphasizes the gradual disappearance of something valuable.

begin to fritter away

Implies wasting time or resources on trivial matters.

start losing

Highlights the beginning of a losing streak or decline.

initiate depletion

A more technical term indicating the starting of a process of exhaustion.

begin to diminish

Focuses on the process of something becoming smaller or less significant.

start to exhaust

Indicates the beginning of using something up completely.

commence to misuse

More formal and specific to using something improperly.

begin to misspend

Specifically refers to starting to spend money unwisely.

start throwing away

Emphasizes the act of discarding something valuable.

FAQs

How can I use "begin to squander" in a sentence?

You can use "begin to squander" to describe the starting point of wasting resources, such as: "If we don't manage our budget wisely, we may "begin to squander" our savings on unnecessary expenses".

What are some alternatives to "begin to squander"?

Alternatives include "start to waste", "begin to fritter away", or "commence to dissipate", each carrying slightly different connotations of wastefulness.

Is "begin to squander" formal or informal?

The phrase "begin to squander" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though simpler alternatives like "start to waste" might be preferred in very casual settings.

What is the difference between "begin to squander" and "start to waste"?

"Begin to squander" implies a more reckless or irresponsible wastefulness compared to ""start to waste"", which is a more general term for using resources inefficiently.