cheering from the sidelines

USAGE SUMMARY

'cheering from the sidelines' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to the act of people cheering on a team, activity, or individual from the side of a field. For example: "The crowd of parents and friends were cheering from the sidelines as their children competed in the sports tournament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

This Sunday, she will be cheering from the sidelines.

The New York Times - Sports

After cheering from the sidelines, she finally decided to sub in.

The New York Times

No amount of cheering from the sidelines by the West will do instead.

The Economist

And millions of people are gripped, booing or cheering from the sidelines.

The Guardian - Opinion

So when Dawn finishes the episode in her new very own office, there I was, cheering from the sidelines.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Canada's academic librarians are cheering from the sidelines now that the University of California has cancelled its subscriptions with the academic publishing giant Elsevier.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Cheering from the sideline would fit the theme of his season, but, he was asked, what was he hoping for?

The New York Times - Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The last few weeks have been difficult for the Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, watching Justin Tuck twirling a towel over his head while cheering from the sideline.

The New York Times - Sports

With the veteran players watching and cheering from the sideline, the two units went back and forth.

Los Angeles Times

With Newton cheering from the sideline after being held out because of a rib injury suffered in preseason, Anderson completed 24 of 34 passes with no interceptions and one sack.

Los Angeles Times

So just in the event that you find yourself in this position - yelling from the sidelines while no one around you joins in or makes eye-contact - I would like to help with a few tips for soccer parents that I have gleaned over the past decade of sitting on and cheering from the sideline.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cheering from the sidelines", ensure the context clearly indicates that the support is being offered passively, without direct involvement in the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "cheering from the sidelines" when active participation is intended. This phrase implies indirect support, not direct engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cheering from the sidelines" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, describing the manner in which someone supports an activity. It indicates a supportive role without direct participation, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cheering from the sidelines" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that describes providing support or encouragement to an activity or cause without actively participating. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and prevalent in News & Media contexts. While it conveys indirect support, it is appropriate in neutral to informal registers. For more formal settings, alternatives like "offering support" or "providing encouragement" might be preferable. Remember to use the phrase when you want to convey that the support is being offered passively, without direct involvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rooting from the stands

Substitutes "cheering" with "rooting" and "sidelines" with "stands", emphasizing spectator support.

backing from the bleachers

Replaces "cheering" with "backing" and "sidelines" with "bleachers", highlighting spectator endorsement.

applauding from afar

Replaces "cheering" with "applauding" and "sidelines" with "afar", focusing on distant support.

supporting from the margin

Replaces "cheering" with "supporting" and "sidelines" with "margin", highlighting indirect assistance.

showing enthusiasm from the edge

Replaces "cheering" with "showing enthusiasm" and "sidelines" with "edge", emphasizing indirect excitement.

encouraging from a distance

Uses "encouraging" instead of "cheering" and "a distance" instead of "sidelines", focusing on remote motivation.

praising from outside the arena

Uses "praising" instead of "cheering" and "outside the arena" instead of "sidelines", emphasizing external admiration.

offering support from the periphery

Substitutes "cheering" with "offering support" and "sidelines" with "periphery", emphasizing indirect contribution.

expressing approval from the boundary

Substitutes "cheering" with "expressing approval" and "sidelines" with "boundary", highlighting indirect agreement.

boosting morale from afar

Uses "boosting morale" instead of "cheering" and "afar" instead of "sidelines", focusing on remote encouragement.

FAQs

How can I use "cheering from the sidelines" in a sentence?

You can use "cheering from the sidelines" to describe someone supporting an activity without directly participating. For example, "While I couldn't join the project, I was "cheering from the sidelines"."

What are some alternatives to "cheering from the sidelines"?

Alternatives include "applauding from afar", "rooting from the stands", or "supporting from the margin", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "cheering from the sidelines" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "cheering from the sidelines" might be considered informal in highly academic or business contexts. Consider more formal alternatives like "offering support" or "providing encouragement" in such cases.

What does "cheering from the sidelines" imply about the level of involvement?

The phrase implies a supportive but non-participatory role. It suggests encouragement and approval without direct engagement in the activity or situation.