cover the deficit

USAGE SUMMARY

"cover the deficit" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to refer to the act of making up for a financial loss. For example: The government introduced a new tax to cover the deficit created by the national emergency.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

He added that he was donating $2.5 million to help cover the deficit and seeking contributions.

The New York Times - Arts

Could this be because of the government's need to cover the deficit?

The Guardian - Opinion

Everyone is affected by tax dodgers whose lost funds could cover the deficit.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first two, already announced, cover the deficit and curbing immigration – two natural Tory subjects.

The Guardian

But this is still not enough to cover the deficit in goods, which runs at around £25bn a quarter.

The Guardian - Business

In the first, investors believe that the government will eventually raise revenue and/or cut spending, and are willing to lend enough to cover the deficit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The windfall from all that, he argued, would more than cover the deficits in Social Security and Medicare.

The New York Times

John McVay A large part of that money helps to cover the deficits for UK programming to sustain development spend.

The Guardian

The studios that produced the shows for the networks relied on syndication sales of repeats to cover the deficits incurred in producing shows.

The New York Times

"Can they keep spending money to cover the deficits of the local governments and in the pension system?" Mr. Asher asked.

The New York Times

It could then borrow to cover the deficits for another four or five years and still be no deeper in debt, relative to the size of its economy, than many Western European nations, Mr. Coughlin said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial challenges, use "cover the deficit" to clearly indicate the measures taken to address a shortfall, whether through fundraising, budget adjustments, or other strategies.

Common error

Avoid implying that simply "cover the deficit" equates to a sustainable, long-term financial strategy. Addressing the root causes of the deficit requires additional planning and implementation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cover the deficit" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used as a predicate in a sentence. It indicates an action taken to address or compensate for a financial shortfall. Ludwig's examples showcase its common usage in financial and economic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cover the deficit" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe actions taken to address a financial shortfall. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely understood and accepted in standard English. With a high frequency of usage, particularly in news and media, the phrase effectively communicates efforts to manage and compensate for financial imbalances. Related phrases like "reduce the deficit" and "eliminate the deficit" offer nuanced alternatives, each emphasizing different approaches to financial recovery. While it is crucial to use "cover the deficit" accurately, it's equally important to avoid implying it represents a permanent solution, as true fiscal stability requires addressing the underlying causes of the deficit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eliminate the deficit

Focuses on completely removing the deficit, suggesting a more comprehensive solution.

offset the deficit

Highlights the balancing of losses with gains, emphasizing a counteracting effect.

reduce the deficit

Indicates a decrease in the deficit amount, rather than a complete resolution.

finance the deficit

Emphasizes the act of providing funds to manage the deficit, often through borrowing or investment.

make up for the deficit

Highlights compensating for the shortfall through various means.

rectify the deficit

Implies correcting the financial imbalance, suggesting a formal or official action.

address the deficit

Focuses on taking steps to deal with the deficit, without specifying the exact method.

remedy the deficit

Suggests providing a cure or solution for the financial problem.

tackle the deficit

Implies actively confronting the deficit with specific strategies.

service the deficit

Emphasizes the ongoing management of the deficit, often through debt repayments.

FAQs

How can I use "cover the deficit" in a sentence?

You can use "cover the deficit" to describe actions taken to address a financial shortfall, such as "The government raised taxes to "cover the deficit"".

What are some alternatives to saying "cover the deficit"?

Alternatives include "eliminate the deficit", "reduce the deficit", or "offset the deficit", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "cover the deficit" or eliminate it completely?

While completely "eliminate the deficit" is ideal, it's not always immediately achievable. "Covering the deficit" often refers to short-term measures to manage the shortfall, while eliminating it requires long-term financial planning and structural changes.

What's the difference between "finance the deficit" and "cover the deficit"?

"Finance the deficit" often implies borrowing money or securing investments to manage the shortfall, while "cover the deficit" can include a broader range of actions like cutting expenses or raising revenue.