falling to the floor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "falling to the floor" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an object or person that is descending and making contact with the floor. Example: "The book slipped from her hands, falling to the floor with a loud thud."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Coins falling to the floor.

The New Yorker

Soon some of them are falling to the floor.

The New Yorker

falling to the floor and then the officer continuing to shoot into the teenager's body.

Independent

Shocked at first, the women end up embracing each other, sobbing, falling to the floor.

The New Yorker

IT was a mystery, a sound like a broom handle falling to the floor upstairs.

The New York Times

Knight took the inbounds pass, dribbled twice and launched a rainbow before falling to the floor.

The New York Times - Sports

Both boxers lost their rhythm completely, falling to the floor several times.

The Guardian - Sport

"Three Lead Coils" consists of lengths of coiled lead tubing hanging from the wall and falling to the floor.

The New York Times - Arts

The jury also saw footage the prosecution said showed the General falling to the floor immediately after the attack.

Independent

Push a little lever toward the bottom of a pedestal, and the sculpture is dislodged, falling to the floor.

The New York Times - Arts

Residents described water spilling out of home aquariums and objects like home water dispensers falling to the floor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "falling to the floor" when you want to vividly describe an action or event involving a descent to ground level, whether it's a person, an object, or even an abstract concept like tears. It adds a sense of finality and grounding to the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "falling to the floor" in overly metaphorical or abstract contexts where a more nuanced phrase would be appropriate. While vivid, it's best reserved for scenarios where a literal or strongly implied physical descent is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "falling to the floor" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase describing a specific type of movement. Ludwig AI states that is correct and usable in written English. It modifies a verb, noun, or adjective to indicate the direction and endpoint of the fall.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

20%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "falling to the floor" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a descent to ground level. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in various contexts. Its usage spans across news, arts, and sports, indicating its versatility. While generally neutral in register, it is more suitable for scenarios involving a literal or strongly implied physical fall. Related phrases offer nuanced alternatives, and awareness of potential metaphorical misapplications helps ensure clarity. With its widespread presence in authoritative sources, "falling to the floor" remains a useful and descriptive phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collapsing onto the floor

Emphasizes a sudden and uncontrolled descent to the floor.

dropping to the floor

Implies a more direct and less eventful descent.

crashing to the floor

Indicates a violent and noisy fall.

tumbling to the floor

Suggests a less controlled and more chaotic movement towards the floor.

landing on the floor

Focuses on the final point of contact after a fall.

plunging to the floor

Highlights a rapid and forceful fall.

slumping to the floor

Describes a slow and weary descent, often due to exhaustion or illness.

descending to the floor

A more formal and descriptive way of saying falling to the floor.

hitting the deck

An informal way of saying someone fell to the floor, often used in action contexts.

going down

A general term for falling, which can sometimes imply falling to the floor depending on context.

FAQs

How can I use "falling to the floor" in a sentence?

You can use "falling to the floor" to describe a person or object descending downwards and making contact with the ground. For example, "The vase slipped from the table, falling to the floor and shattering into pieces".

What can I say instead of "falling to the floor"?

You can use alternatives like "collapsing onto the floor", "tumbling to the floor", or "dropping to the floor" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "falling to the floor" and "falling on the floor"?

"Falling to the floor" emphasizes the action of descending and making contact. "Falling on the floor", while similar, puts slightly more emphasis on the state of being on the floor after the fall.

Is "falling to the floor" a formal or informal expression?

"Falling to the floor" is a fairly neutral expression and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, its impact is more vivid compared to terms like "descending to the floor", which is more formal.