drift out of control

USAGE SUMMARY

"drift out of control" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to lose control or become increasingly chaotic or chaotic. Example: The boat's engine suddenly died and we began to drift out of control, unable to steer or slow down as we headed towards the rocks.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In October, a confidential management assessment determined that the project was "in a malaise and could drift out of control".

The New Yorker

Too great an incline would disturb the air beneath the pallet, allowing millions of dollars' worth of superconducting cable to drift out of control.

The New Yorker

Even robots can sometimes "drift out of control, which a technician needs to be able to recognize as soon as possible," Mr. Kimerling said, adding, that it's a skill that comes with more advanced technical training.

The New York Times

In October, a confidential management assessment determined that the project was "in a malaise and could drift out of control". It made eleven stark recommendations, among them that Motojima be replaced as quickly as possible.

The New Yorker

But, cushy local markets (and its lucrative clutch of Asian routes) allowed Northwest to let its costs drift out of control.Once fuel costs rose and overall demand tumbled right after the 2001 terrorist attacks, Northwest had the same need as America's other "legacy" airlines to cut costs and shed capacity.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As more Americans ventured west, to the area that today plays host to many "red" states, the country's founders saw that this land might easily drift out of their control if it lacked intercourse with the coast.

The Economist

It drifted out of my control, its tides caught up and dictated by Bill's grief".

The Guardian - Books

After a day in which the Test match drifted out of Amla's control, his best quick became a fitness doubt, his leading batsman expressed concerns about his workload and three clear-cut catches went down in the field – two dropped by De Villiers – a call to Smith, a man with 11 years' experience of leading South Africa, might not be the worst move.

The Guardian - Sport

The importance of Colorado for determining control of the Senate has waned over the past month as the state has drifted out of the tossup column and toward Mr. Gardner.

The New York Times

A faint perfume drifted out of its woody little body".

The Guardian - Books

Released from his contract, Doherty drifted out of the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gradual loss of control or direction, use "drift out of control" to emphasize the slow, almost imperceptible way things are becoming unmanageable.

Common error

Avoid using "drift out of control" to describe situations that become uncontrolled suddenly or abruptly. The phrase implies a gradual process, so opt for alternatives like "spiral out of control" or "get out of hand" /s/spiral+out+of+control that better reflect the sudden change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drift out of control" functions as a descriptive phrase, often used to characterize a process or situation that is gradually losing its intended direction or management. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples illustrate its use in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drift out of control" is a grammatically correct and semantically rich expression used to describe a gradual loss of control, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is favored in News & Media sources and Wikipedia. When writing, be mindful to use it to depict processes that lose control slowly, opting for alternatives like "get out of hand" or ""spiral out of control"" for sudden events. The phrase serves to warn and emphasize the need for intervention. Top sources include authoritative publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spiral out of control

Emphasizes a rapid and accelerating loss of control.

get out of hand

Focuses on a situation becoming unmanageable and difficult to control.

become unmanageable

Highlights the inability to manage or control something.

go haywire

Implies a sudden and chaotic loss of control, often in a mechanical or technical context.

run amok

Suggests uncontrolled and destructive behavior.

lose the reins

Indicates a loss of authority or control over a situation or entity.

break loose

Implies escaping from confinement or control.

go off the rails

Suggests a deviation from the intended course or plan, leading to a loss of control.

get carried away

Emphasizes losing self-control and acting impulsively.

descend into chaos

Highlights the progression toward a state of complete disorder and lack of control.

FAQs

How can I use "drift out of control" in a sentence?

You can use "drift out of control" to describe something gradually becoming unmanageable, such as "The project began to "spiral out of control" when key deadlines were missed".

What's the difference between "drift out of control" and "get out of hand"?

"Drift out of control" implies a slow, gradual loss of control, while "get out of hand" /s/get+out+of+hand suggests a more rapid escalation to an unmanageable state.

What can I say instead of "drift out of control"?

Alternatives include ""spiral out of control"", "become unmanageable", or "get out of hand" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say something is "drifting out of control"?

Yes, "drifting out of control" is a correct and commonly used variation of the phrase, suggesting something is currently in the process of losing control.