fall to the state

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fall to the state" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear without context.
It could be used in discussions about responsibilities or powers that are transferred to a government or authority. Example: "In times of crisis, certain responsibilities may fall to the state to ensure public safety and order."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Without legal owners, these lands fall to the state.

The Guardian

No charges will fall to the state, it was stressed.

The Guardian - Arts

Kinship carers are doing a job that would otherwise fall to the state.

The Guardian - Opinion

A basis of those fears, he acknowledged, is the fact that nearly two-thirds of the company's lands have no clear owner and would fall to the state.

The New York Times

The booklet, as quoted in the indictment, says that if soldiers are unpaid, "a fifth of war booty shall fall to the state treasury, and the other four-fifths belong to the soldiers".

The New York Times

Should it fall to the state's consumers, the generators or the utilities?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Ms. Nichols said that given the inability of the international bureaucracy or the United States Congress to move decisively on global warming, the job would increasingly fall to the states and local governments.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON -- Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled new standards for emissions from power plants, responsibility will fall to the states to come up with their own plans to reduce planet-warming emissions.

Huffington Post

With independence the task of overseeing public instruction fell to the state and local authorities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Normally, it falls to the state's top official to help generate votes.

The New York Times

Playland personnel continually monitor the park's 45 rides for safety, although the major oversight responsibility falls to the state.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall to the state" when you want to emphasize that a responsibility, asset, or duty becomes the domain of the government or a governing authority due to specific circumstances like lack of ownership or failure of private entities.

Common error

Avoid using "fall to the state" in casual conversation or informal writing. It's generally more appropriate for formal reports, legal documents, or discussions about government and policy. Simpler alternatives like "become the government's responsibility" are preferable in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall to the state" functions as a verb phrase, often acting as a predicate in a sentence. It describes a transfer of responsibility, ownership, or control to a governmental entity. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it suggests a process where something comes under the purview of the state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fall to the state" describes a transfer of responsibility, ownership, or control to the government. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI characterizes it as potentially unclear without context. It's most frequently encountered in news and media sources and is best suited for formal writing. Alternatives such as "revert to the state" or "become the responsibility of the state" might be clearer in some contexts. The key is to consider your audience and the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become the responsibility of the state

Highlights the state's duty or obligation to handle something.

fall under state control

Highlights the aspect of being regulated or managed by the state.

revert to the state

Focuses on the idea of something returning to state control after a period of private or other ownership.

pass to the state

Emphasizes the transfer of something, like land or assets, to the state.

be assumed by the government

More generally refers to the government taking on a responsibility or role.

be administered by the state

Focuses on the state's role in managing or overseeing something.

become state-owned

Emphasizes the resulting ownership by the state, rather than the process of transferring.

be taken over by the state

Suggests a more forceful or complete transfer of control to the state.

be nationalized

Specifically implies the government taking control of an industry or asset.

escheat to the state

A legal term for property reverting to the state when there are no legal heirs.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is said to "fall to the state"?

It means that the responsibility, ownership, or control of something, such as land or an asset, transfers to the government or a governmental entity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "fall to the state"?

It's appropriate in formal contexts, such as legal or political discussions, when describing the transfer of control or responsibility to a government entity. It's less suitable for informal conversation.

What are some alternatives to saying something will "fall to the state"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "revert to the state", "become state-owned", or "become the responsibility of the state" depending on the specific context.

Is "fall to the state" the same as "be nationalized"?

While related, they aren't identical. "Be nationalized" specifically refers to the government taking control of an industry or asset, while "fall to the state" is a broader term that can refer to any responsibility, ownership, or control that transfers to the government.