fall victim

USAGE SUMMARY

'fall victim' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
In this case, it means to become the target of something and to suffer from it. Example: The small business fell victim to the economic recession.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even usually organized travelers fall victim.

The New York Times

Or fall victim to discrimination?

The Washington Post

We fall victim to it.

The Guardian - Business

Even those public officials can sometimes fall victim themselves.

The New York Times

When we're too attentive, we fall victim to tunnel vision.

The New York Times - Books

Some machines fall victim more often than others.

The New York Times

Will a star fall victim to impulsive anticipation?

The New York Times - Sports

This city didn't fall victim to warfare or weather.

The New Yorker

Many people in the West fall victim to this.

University of California, Berkeley

In every city, some neighborhoods fall victim to private disinvestment.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

We will not fall victims to terrorism.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall victim" to clearly convey that someone or something has suffered negative consequences due to external forces or circumstances. This phrase is effective in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "fall victim" when the negative outcome is a direct result of one's own actions or negligence. The phrase implies an external cause, so ensure this is accurate to maintain clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall victim" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a person or thing suffers harm or negative consequences due to external circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is used correctly in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall victim" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe situations where someone or something suffers harm or negative consequences due to external forces. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, academia, and science. While alternatives like "fall prey" or "become a victim" exist, "fall victim" effectively conveys the idea of succumbing to external pressures. Remember to use it when the negative outcome is clearly due to external factors, and not as a result of one's own actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become a victim

A more direct and literal way of stating the same concept.

fall prey

Implies being targeted and exploited, adding a predatory element.

fall casualty

Suggests being harmed or killed as an indirect result of an event or situation.

be a casualty of

Similar to "fall casualty", but more formal and passive.

succumb to

Emphasizes the act of yielding or giving in to something negative.

suffer from

Highlights the experience of pain or hardship as a consequence.

be harmed by

A general expression indicating that damage or injury has been sustained.

be affected by

A broader term indicating influence, which can be negative.

be exposed to

Highlights the state of being subjected to a potentially harmful influence.

become susceptible to

Focuses on vulnerability and increased risk of being affected.

FAQs

What does it mean to "fall victim" to something?

To "fall victim" to something means to suffer negative consequences as a result of external circumstances, actions, or forces. It implies being harmed or negatively affected by something beyond one's direct control.

What are some alternatives to saying "fall victim"?

You can use alternatives like "fall prey", "become a victim", or "succumb to" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone "fell victim of" something?

While you might hear "fell victim of", the more common and grammatically sound phrase is "fell victim to". The preposition "to" correctly indicates the cause or circumstance to which someone succumbed.

How can I use "fall victim" in a sentence?

You can use "fall victim" in sentences such as, "The company fell victim to a cyber attack", or "Many people in the community fell victim to the scam". Ensure the context clearly indicates an external cause leading to negative consequences.