get very far

USAGE SUMMARY

'get very far' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a person's progress in achieving a goal: Though he had worked hard on his project, he didn't get very far.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You couldn't get very far.

The New Yorker

I didn't get very far".

The New York Times - Books

They won't get very far.

The New York Times - Arts

The debate did not get very far.

The Economist

I don't usually get very far.

The New York Times

But I don't get very far.

The Guardian - Music

They don't get very far.

The Washington Post

We didn't get very far.

The Guardian

He didn't get very far.

The New York Times

But doesn't get very far.

The Guardian - Sport

Encouragement doesn't get very far".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "get very far" to describe situations where progress is limited or nonexistent despite effort. For example, "Despite his hard work, he didn't "get very far" with his project".

Common error

While "get very far" is widely understood, avoid overuse in highly formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "achieve significant progress" or "attain substantial results" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get very far" functions as a predicate in a sentence, often indicating a lack of substantial progress or achievement. Ludwig confirms its usability, showing it's suitable for describing limited advancements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "get very far" is a common and grammatically sound way to express limited progress or a lack of substantial achievement. As Ludwig confirms, it is frequently used in news and media contexts to describe situations where efforts don't yield significant results. While versatile, it's best to consider more formal alternatives like "achieve substantial results" in professional writing. Remember that, although the phrase is correct, you might want to evaluate similar choices like "make much headway" for nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make much headway

Focuses on the progress made, implying a lack of significant advancement.

achieve limited success

Highlights the limited degree of success attained.

advance insignificantly

Emphasizes the minimal extent of the progress made.

gain little ground

Suggests a lack of substantial progress or territorial gain in a metaphorical sense.

not progress significantly

Directly states the lack of significant progression.

barely scratch the surface

Indicates that only a superficial amount of progress has been made.

fail to make substantial progress

Highlights the failure to achieve considerable advancement.

see minimal advancement

Focuses on the limited visibility of any progress made.

encounter significant obstacles

Emphasizes the barriers preventing progress.

not achieve the desired outcome

Highlights the failure to reach the intended result.

FAQs

How can I use "get very far" in a sentence?

You can use "get very far" to describe situations where someone or something fails to make significant progress, such as, "Without proper funding, the project won't "get very far"".

What are some synonyms for "get very far"?

Alternatives to "get very far" include "make much headway", "achieve limited success", or "gain little ground" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "didn't get very far"?

Yes, "didn't get very far" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a lack of progress or success. For instance, "Campaign finance reform didn't "get very far".

What's the difference between "get very far" and "go very far"?

While both phrases convey a similar idea of progress, "get very far" often implies a struggle or obstacle, whereas "go very far" can also suggest future potential, as in "That idea won't "go very far" if it's not well-funded".