failed to thrive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to thrive" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in medical or developmental contexts to describe a child or individual who is not growing or developing as expected. Example: "The pediatrician expressed concern that the infant had failed to thrive and recommended further evaluation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It too has failed to thrive.

The Economist

"Our community failed to thrive because we failed to stay".

The New York Times

Without sun, crops failed to thrive and famine resulted.

The Guardian

Many, however, either failed to thrive or were pushed out of business by officious inspectors.

The New York Times - Travel

The plants in the Congo house, fittingly enough, failed to thrive.

The New York Times - Books

The bamboo was the winner after wheat grass and yucca failed to thrive.

The New York Times

Yet, despite rampant joblessness, poverty and insecurity, parties that have prioritised clampdowns on immigrants have failed to thrive.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although Kaylin seemed normal at birth, a major heart defect was found weeks later when she failed to thrive, bled abnormally and began to turn blue.

The New York Times

Although in doing so the perennially bow-tied entrepreneur from Tennessee helped pioneer the charter-school movement, his Edison Project ultimately failed to thrive as a business.

The Economist

The conflicts got worse as the business failed to thrive, sending the pretty little ice-cream parlor hurtling toward a dramatic implosion.

The New Yorker

It is the plague that infects the body of 18-month-old John Phiri, who has, through recurrent bouts of infection, diarrhoea and vomiting, failed to thrive.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to thrive" in a medical context, ensure you provide specific details about the individual's condition, such as weight loss, developmental delays, or other relevant symptoms.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to thrive" in contexts where a more specific description is possible. Instead of saying a business "failed to thrive", specify whether it experienced financial losses or a decline in market share.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to thrive" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often acting as the predicate of a sentence. It describes a state of not developing, growing, or progressing as expected. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to thrive" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes a lack of expected growth, development, or progress. It is most common in News & Media and Scientific contexts. According to Ludwig AI, this expression is typically used to describe a state where something or someone is not flourishing. To ensure clarity, provide specific details when using this phrase, especially in medical contexts. While "failed to thrive" can be a useful and concise way to express a lack of progress, consider using more specific descriptions to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to prosper

Replaces "thrive" with "prosper", focusing on financial or general success rather than overall well-being.

failed to flourish

Substitutes "thrive" with "flourish", emphasizing vigorous growth and development.

didn't develop properly

Uses a more general term to describe the lack of expected growth or progress.

experienced stunted growth

Focuses specifically on the physical aspect of not growing as expected.

deteriorated in health

Highlights a decline in health status, implying a previous state of better health.

failed to reach its potential

Emphasizes the unrealized possibilities and lack of full development.

stagnated and declined

Indicates a lack of movement or progress followed by a downturn.

regressed instead of progressed

Highlights a reversal of progress, moving backward instead of forward.

did not advance

A simpler way of expressing lack of forward movement or development.

withered and declined

Suggests a gradual loss of vitality and eventual decline.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "failed to thrive"?

When someone says "failed to thrive", it typically means there is a lack of expected growth, development, or progress. It's often used in medical contexts to describe infants or children who are not growing or gaining weight as expected, but can also apply more broadly.

How is "failed to thrive" typically used in medical contexts?

In medical contexts, "failed to thrive" describes infants or children who are not gaining weight or growing at the expected rate for their age. It can indicate underlying medical conditions or nutritional deficiencies.

What are some alternatives to "failed to thrive"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "failed to thrive" include phrases like "failed to prosper", "didn't develop properly", or "experienced stunted growth".

Is "failed to thrive" a formal or informal expression?

"Failed to thrive" is generally considered a neutral expression. While it appears in medical and scientific contexts, it is also used in news and general media. Therefore, it is suitable for both formal and informal writing.