close to lifting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to lifting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation that is nearly at the point of being lifted or raised, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The heavy load was close to lifting off the ground, but we needed one more person to help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Former Manchester City striker Rosler had been with Brentford since June 2011 and twice came close to lifting them into the second tier of English football last term.

Independent

Miss Arroyo comes close to lifting the opera into a first rate verismo style, but there are some crucial places where her dramatic involvement flags.

The New York Times

And so to the FA Cup, which Pienaar came close to lifting with Everton in 2009 only for Chelsea, the villains once again, to come back from Louis Saha's first-minute goal to win the final 2-1.

The Guardian - Sport

To illustrate his point, Coelho referenced the great Brazil sides and their expansive approach along with the Dutch teams of the 70s, whose flowing "total football" brought them agonisingly close to lifting the World Cup in both 1974 and 1978.

The Guardian - Sport

That is a meaningful record in a competition fast gaining a reputation for benefiting the experienced: Darren Clarke also won last year as a 42-year-old and Greg Norman and Tom Watson have recently gone close to lifting the Claret Jug at the ages of 53 and 59 respectively.

The Guardian - Sport

"We've been involved in a couple of these semis and we've not got there which is disappointing to take and we're now one step close to lifting the Challenge Cup".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The relative stability of iPad 2 over, or next to, iPad 1, suggests the new computing platform is close to lift off.

TechCrunch

American officials refused to talk to the Brotherhood, deeming engagement recognition, and the Egyptian government was no closer to lifting a ban on the group.

The New York Times

To frack or not to frack: France has become the first country to ban the controversial gas-drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking," while New York State moves closer to lifting its own de facto ban on the same method.

The New Yorker

More immediately, Russia's goals included punishing the United States in general and Clinton in particular; shifting the United States closer to lifting sanctions; getting its de facto possession of Crimea recognized or ignored; and having Washington defer to Russia's influence everywhere from the Baltics to the Middle East.

The Washington Post

Lancashire came closest to lifting the trophy in 2005 when they were beaten in the final by Somerset.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to lifting" to describe a situation where an object or metaphorical barrier is almost being raised or overcome. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being lifted, whether physical or abstract.

Common error

Avoid using "close to lifting" in situations where the action is impossible or improbable. The phrase implies a high likelihood of the lifting action occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to lifting" functions as a prepositional phrase often modifying a verb or noun to indicate proximity to an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to lifting" is a grammatically sound and relatively common prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is nearly being raised or achieved. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and usability of this phrase.

Analysis of various sources reveals that "close to lifting" is most frequently used in news and media contexts, often to describe situations where a team is about to win a trophy or a political barrier is about to be overcome. While the phrase is versatile, it is important to ensure the context logically supports the imminent action of "lifting", as misuse can lead to confusion. Alternatives such as "nearly lifting" or "on the verge of lifting" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly lifting

Replaces "close to" with "nearly", indicating a slight reduction in the degree of proximity.

almost lifting

Similar to 'nearly lifting', but places a greater emphasis on achieving complete action.

on the verge of lifting

Emphasizes the imminence of the lifting action.

just about to lift

Emphasizes the short time that will pass till the action is completed.

about to lift

Highlights the immediate future action of lifting.

approaching the lift

Focuses on the progression towards the act of lifting.

within reach of lifting

Emphasizes the possibility and easiness to accomplish the action.

nearing the point of lifting

Specifies the stage of being close to the lifting action.

drawing near to lifting

Highlights the continuous movement towards the lifting action.

in proximity to lifting

A more formal way of expressing closeness to the action.

FAQs

What does "close to lifting" mean?

The phrase "close to lifting" generally means that something is nearing the point of being raised, either physically or metaphorically. It implies a state of almost achieving the action of lifting.

How can I use "close to lifting" in a sentence?

You can use "close to lifting" to describe a team nearing a championship, like: "After this win, they are "close to lifting" the trophy."

What can I say instead of "close to lifting"?

Alternatives to "close to lifting" include "nearly lifting", "on the verge of lifting", or "about to lift" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "close to lifting" formal or informal?

"Close to lifting" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The context of the sentence and surrounding vocabulary will influence the overall formality.