close to surrendering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to surrendering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is nearly ready to give up or yield in a conflict or challenge. Example: "After hours of negotiation, the team was close to surrendering their demands."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The club came close to surrendering their elite status last season before surviving on the final day.

The Guardian - Sport

It leaves St Mirren perilously close to surrendering their Premiership place and Well's survival hopes enhanced.

BBC

Yet, democratic decision-making also appeals to many risk perception researchers, and some see such little prospect for a solution thaty they seem close to surrendering to decision-making based on lay risk perception.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

The situation in the Macedonian camp became so grave that the Macedonians were close to surrendering.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

American troops in the Philippines were close to surrender.

The New Yorker

The South is falling apart, close to surrender, and the Southern states, defeated, and reëntering the Congress — as Lincoln had always wanted — will never ratify the amendment.

The New Yorker

Defections, depleted resources and a mysterious malaise have led to reports that Kony is moving closer to surrender.

Independent

Still, when it's this close, you are wise to surrender all responsibility and bow to the math.

The New York Times

Yet out of sight of the journalists, another tactical response team hunted down fleeing miners, some of whom where shot at close range while trying to surrender.

The New York Times

Aided by French troops under the aegis of the UN, Mr Ouattara's fighters closed in, expecting Mr Gbagbo to surrender.

The Economist

The Mets could have had Boston Red Sox third baseman Shea Hillenbrand recently if they had been willing to surrender their closer, Armando Benitez, one baseball official who was told of the Mets' discussions with other teams said yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to surrendering" when you want to convey that someone or something is nearly giving up but hasn't completely done so yet. It suggests a state of being on the verge of yielding, often due to immense pressure or difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "close to surrendering" when the subject has already surrendered. The phrase indicates a state of being near surrender, not the act of surrendering itself. If the surrender has occurred, use phrases like "surrendered" or "gave up".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to surrendering" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a state of being near to giving up or yielding. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to surrendering" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to describe a state of being near to giving up, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While the frequency of the expression is rare, it is commonly found in news and media contexts. Its purpose is to convey a precarious situation without implying that surrender has already occurred. It's important to use this phrase to indicate the imminence of yielding, and not after the act of surrendering has been completed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of surrender

Emphasizes the imminence of surrendering.

nearing capitulation

Implies a more formal or military context of surrendering.

about to give up

A more general expression for losing hope and surrendering.

on the brink of defeat

Focuses on the negative outcome leading to surrender.

ready to concede

Indicates willingness to accept defeat or loss.

on the point of yielding

Highlights the act of giving way under pressure.

on the ropes

An idiomatic expression indicating near defeat or collapse, often in a competition.

at the end of their rope

Describes a state of utter desperation and near surrender.

facing imminent defeat

Emphasizes the unavoidable nature of the defeat.

at a breaking point

Suggests reaching a limit beyond which one cannot continue without surrendering.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to surrendering" to describe a situation where someone is nearly ready to give up. For example: "After hours of negotiation, the team was "close to surrendering" their demands."

What's the difference between "close to surrendering" and "surrendering"?

"Close to surrendering" indicates a state of being near surrender, while "surrendering" means the act of giving up has already happened. The former is a state of anticipation, the latter a completed action.

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

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of surrender", "about to give up", or "nearing capitulation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "close to surrendering" in formal writing?

Yes, "close to surrendering" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when describing a situation where someone is on the brink of giving up in a negotiation, battle, or challenging situation.