is lost for good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is lost for good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is permanently lost and cannot be recovered. Example: "After the storm, the family realized that their treasured heirlooms were lost for good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

After that date this year's tax-free individual savings account (ISA) allowance is lost for good.

Independent

Even if Beagle 2 is lost for good, the search for life on Mars will go on.

The Guardian

If the tax break is lost for good, "it could be a negative for them," Nisbet says.

Forbes

But there's one catch to the free version of the service: if you lose the document URL, that marked up document is lost for good (remember, you didn't create an account to sign up).

TechCrunch

Any data on a deleted partition is lost for good.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Some of that revenue may now be lost for good.

The Economist

As companies have gone bust, capacity has been lost for good.

The New York Times

Entire industries disappeared, and hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost for good.

The New Yorker

Their fear is that UK pragmatism will be lost for good.

The Guardian - Opinion

If such knowledge leaves with retirees, it may be lost for good.

Harvard Business Review

The surge seems to indicate that homes that were in the foreclosure pipeline are now being lost for good.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is lost for good" to emphasize the finality and irreversibility of a loss, whether it's tangible, like data, or intangible, like an opportunity.

Common error

While "is lost for good" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound melodramatic or less professional. In formal settings, consider using alternatives like "irretrievably lost" or "permanently unrecoverable" to maintain a more objective tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is lost for good" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying the subject by describing its state as permanently unrecoverable. Ludwig confirms the proper usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is lost for good" conveys the idea that something is permanently unrecoverable. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. While generally acceptable, it's crucial to consider the context. In more formal settings, using alternatives like "irretrievably lost" or "permanently unrecoverable" might be preferable. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources but can also be found in Wiki and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is gone forever

Emphasizes the permanent absence of something.

is irretrievably lost

Highlights the inability to recover what is lost.

is permanently gone

Stresses the enduring nature of the loss.

is unrecoverable

Focuses on the impossibility of regaining what's lost.

is lost without a trace

Indicates a complete disappearance, leaving no evidence behind.

is consigned to oblivion

Suggests a complete forgetting or disappearance from memory.

is beyond retrieval

Emphasizes that recovery is not possible.

is definitively lost

Highlights the certainty and conclusiveness of the loss.

is irredeemably lost

Focuses on the lack of any possibility of redemption or recovery.

is past recall

Suggests that something is beyond being remembered or brought back.

FAQs

What does "is lost for good" mean?

The phrase "is lost for good" means that something is permanently lost and cannot be recovered or regained.

What can I say instead of "is lost for good"?

You can use alternatives like "is gone forever", "is irretrievably lost", or "is permanently gone" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is lost for good"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "is lost for good". It's a common idiom used to express that something is permanently unrecoverable.

How do I use "is lost for good" in a sentence?

You can use "is lost for good" to emphasize the finality of a loss. For example: "If you delete the file without a backup, it is lost for good."