fall back on something

USAGE SUMMARY

'fall back on something' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a strategy or resource one can rely on in difficult times or when all other options have failed. For example, "When the stock market crashed, I had to fall back on my savings to pay for my expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Given the occasional flare-up of international controversies, it's handy for Brits abroad to be able to fall back on something that everyone seems to love.

The Economist

"College would be better," he said, "because you'll have a chance to fall back on something besides just basketball, because basketball's going to end at some point".

The New York Times - Sports

A man who didn't have an umbrella knocked on the window, said, "How much do you charge?" He thought I was a car service, and I said to myself, maybe that's what my father had in mind; I could fall back on something, just in case.

The New York Times

In the case of a loss, depending on how large the margin and how his rivals fare, Mr. Romney may have to fall back on something of a survival strategy, scooping up a few states he can capture with relatively small expenditure and hoping that Mr. McCain does not sweep everywhere else and lock up the nomination.

The New York Times

But, in the absence of hard data we have to fall back on something to serve as our guide for action.

Forbes

Ronald Reagan, instead of calling the Soviet Union the "evil empire," would have had to fall back on something like "an unacceptable framework from which we would like to see more positive results".

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

And to prevent herself from freaking out, she fell back on something most novelists don't have recourse to: a martial-arts training.

The Guardian - Books

Marv Levy, who coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls in the early nineties, told me he always fell back on something the legendary Notre Dame coaching innovator Knute Rockne once said: "I never ask if a player has the will to win.

The New Yorker

I can differentiate the rigor of a variety of platforms, allowing students to choose not only which final project will best represent their story, but also how much time they want to devote to learning a new publishing tool or falling back on something more familiar.

HuffPost

It is wise to do this before completely converting to Linux to give you something to fall back on if something goes wrong.

WikiHow

"I think that there must be a greater segment of our population that has tenuous connections to family and friends, and therefore has fewer resources to fall back on when something very bad happens like when they lose their job," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall back on something" when you want to emphasize the act of using a resource or strategy as a secondary option after the failure of a primary one. It's particularly useful in scenarios involving planning and risk mitigation.

Common error

Avoid using "fall back on something" when you actually mean to convey a primary or preferred method. This phrase is specifically for backup plans or last resorts, not initial strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall back on something" functions as a verb phrase indicating reliance on a secondary resource or strategy after the failure of a primary one. Ludwig shows its wide usage in various contexts, demonstrating its role in expressing contingency plans.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fall back on something" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe relying on a secondary or backup option. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When writing, it's important to ensure the phrase is used to indicate a contingency plan rather than a primary strategy. Alternatives like "rely on something" can be used for a more formal tone or when describing primary dependencies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rely on something

This alternative directly replaces "fall back on" with "rely on", keeping the meaning nearly identical but with a slightly more formal tone.

depend on something

Similar to "rely on something", this option emphasizes the necessity of the resource for support or success.

resort to something

This suggests that the action is taken as a last option when other possibilities have failed.

turn to something

Indicates seeking help or support from a particular source or strategy.

use as a backup

Focuses on the contingency aspect, implying that the "something" is a reserve plan.

have recourse to something

A more formal and legalistic phrase, suggesting a formal right or ability to use something for assistance.

draw upon something

Suggests utilizing a reserve of resources or skills that are already available.

lean on something

Implies needing support from a tangible or intangible resource.

have something to turn to

This alternative emphasizes the availability of the resource in times of difficulty.

count on something

Indicates a level of trust and expectation in the resource's reliability.

FAQs

How can I use "fall back on something" in a sentence?

You can use "fall back on something" to indicate relying on a secondary option or resource. For example, "If the primary marketing strategy fails, we can "fall back on something" like social media advertising."

What's a more formal alternative to "fall back on something"?

A more formal alternative is to "rely on something". It provides a similar meaning but is suitable for professional or academic writing.

When is it appropriate to use "fall back on something" versus "depend on something"?

"Fall back on something" implies a secondary or backup option, while "depend on something" suggests a primary reliance. Use "fall back on something" when the resource is a contingency, and "depend on something" when it's your main source of support or action.

Is "fell back on something" the same as "fall back on something"?

"Fell back on something" is the past tense of "fall back on something". Use "fell back on something" when describing a past event where reliance on a secondary option occurred.