chalk it up

USAGE SUMMARY

"chalk it up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is attributed to a certain source, or is accepted as a result of something else. For example, "We had no luck winning the game, so we just have to chalk it up to bad luck".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chalk it up to culture.

The New York Times

Chalk it up to experience.

The New York Times

Chalk it up to this being Ireland.

The New York Times

Chalk it up as an aberration.

The New York Times

Chalk it up to youthful optimism.

The New York Times - Sports

Chalk it up to two major factors.

The New York Times

Chalk it up to the jitters.

The New York Times - Health

Chalk it up, perhaps, to civic pride.

The New York Times - Books

You can chalk it up to fate.

The Washington Post

Chalk it up to mixed feelings.

The Washington Post

Chalk it up to stubbornness -- and inventiveness.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chalk it up" when you want to casually attribute a result to a specific cause, often implying acceptance of an undesirable outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "chalk it up" in formal writing, as it is an informal expression. Opt for more professional alternatives such as "attribute to" or "ascribe to".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "chalk it up" is as a phrasal verb functioning as an idiomatic expression. It is used to attribute something to a specific cause, often implying acceptance of an undesirable outcome. According to Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chalk it up" is a very common and correct idiomatic expression primarily used to attribute an outcome to a specific cause, often implying acceptance, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is frequently found in News & Media sources and less often in formal contexts, showing a neutral formality level. When using this phrase, be mindful of its informal nature and consider more professional alternatives like "attribute it to" in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that "chalk it up" is a correct and usable phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attribute it to

Emphasizes the act of assigning a cause or reason.

put it down to

Commonly used in British English, implies explaining something by a specific reason.

ascribe it to

More formal than "chalk it up", also focusing on assigning cause.

credit it to

Suggests that something positive is due to a particular factor.

explain it by

Offers a reason or justification for something.

account for it by

Provides a comprehensive explanation.

blame it on

Assigns responsibility for something negative.

consider it as

Presents a situation or event from a specific viewpoint.

mark it down as

Treat something as a specific case of something else.

set it down to

A more archaic equivalent of "put it down to".

FAQs

How can I use "chalk it up" in a sentence?

You can use "chalk it up" to attribute something to a particular cause. For example, "We lost the game, but we'll just "chalk it up" to experience".

What does "chalk it up" mean?

"Chalk it up" is an idiomatic expression that means to attribute something to a particular cause or to accept something as a result of something else.

What can I say instead of "chalk it up"?

You can use alternatives like "attribute it to", "ascribe it to", or "put it down to" depending on the context.

Is "chalk it up" formal or informal?

"Chalk it up" is considered an informal expression. For more formal situations, consider using alternatives like "attribute it to" or "ascribe it to".