dwindle to nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dwindle to nothing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe any situation that has become progressively smaller or less over time, such as "The support for the small business began to dwindle to nothing after the government passed new policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Their equity will dwindle to nothing in 2018.

The Washington Post

And all the while, the little guy watches the interest on his modest bank savings dwindle to nothing.

The New York Times

If decisions were purely a matter of weighing the pros and cons, charitable donations would likely dwindle to nothing – because what's in it for me?

Stanford University

Chandra delivered his paper, showing a graph that made it transparently clear that a star of above a certain mass would inevitably dwindle to nothing and beyond.

The Guardian

"But it is important to note that if business as usual continues, particularly in the Mediterranean, many scientists estimate that the coral industry could dwindle to nothing in a few decades".

The New York Times

Is Sander so rigorous in his disillusion as to suggest that, when our trade is finished, when we have ceased to be pastry-makers, bricklayers, barons, mothers, S.S. officers, high-school girls, and cellists, we dwindle to nothing more than matter, as chimney sweepers come to dust?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It dwindles to nothing.

The New Yorker

The Amberson fortune dwindles to nothing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then the money dwindled to nothing.

Independent

The interest rate began to fall and dwindled to nothing, followed by the capital investment itself.

The Guardian

The actor Rouvière stands in his flat space, shadow dwindling to nothing.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dwindle to nothing" to emphasize a gradual and complete reduction, often suggesting a loss of something valuable or significant. For example, "The company's profits dwindled to nothing after the economic downturn."

Common error

Avoid using "dwindle to nothing" to describe sudden or abrupt disappearances. The phrase implies a gradual decline over time, not an instantaneous vanishing act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dwindle to nothing" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a process of gradual reduction to complete absence. It's used to describe how something progressively diminishes until it no longer exists or has any significance, as showcased in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dwindle to nothing" is a grammatically sound and usable expression used to describe a gradual reduction or disappearance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples from reliable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicating its usage in news and media, academia and science. While not extremely frequent, it effectively conveys a sense of loss or depletion over time. Related phrases offer alternatives emphasizing the process or completeness of the vanishing. When using this expression, remember to imply gradual decline rather than sudden disappearance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Vanish completely

Focuses on the complete disappearance of something, emphasizing the end result.

Fade away entirely

Emphasizes a gradual disappearance, highlighting the process of fading.

Disappear without a trace

Highlights the lack of remaining evidence after something vanishes.

Reduce to zero

Focuses on the quantitative aspect, indicating a decrease to a numerical value of zero.

Become nonexistent

Stresses the state of no longer existing.

Evaporate completely

Implies a disappearance akin to a liquid turning into vapor, emphasizing a thorough vanishing.

Dissipate entirely

Suggests a scattering or dispersing until nothing remains.

Wane to insignificance

Focuses on the decline in importance or influence until it becomes negligible.

Reach a vanishing point

Implies a gradual reduction to an imperceptible amount.

Ultimately disappear

Highlights the finality of the disappearance after a period of decline.

FAQs

How can I use "dwindle to nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "dwindle to nothing" to describe a gradual reduction or disappearance of something. For example, "Her savings "dwindled to nothing" after months of unemployment."

What's a good alternative to "dwindle to nothing"?

Alternatives include phrases like "vanish completely", "fade away entirely", or "disappear without a trace", depending on the context.

Is "dwindle to nothing" a formal or informal expression?

"Dwindle to nothing" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but more common in descriptive writing and speech.

What does it mean when something "dwindles to nothing"?

When something "dwindles to nothing", it means that it gradually decreases in size, amount, or importance until it effectively ceases to exist or becomes insignificant.