it disappear like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it disappear like" is not correct in English.
The correct form should be "it disappears like." You can use it when making a simile to describe how something vanishes or ceases to exist in a manner similar to something else. Example: "The magician made the rabbit disappear like a puff of smoke."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When you change your sex, you get tremendous pressure to bury your past, to let it disappear like the 'M' that used to be on your driver's license.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then it disappeared like exhaust.

The New York Times

"If you lose control of the plasma, it doesn't just sit there, it disappears like that," says Campbell, clicking his fingers.

The Guardian

"There's obviously a seasonality with this thing; otherwise we wouldn't see it disappearing like this quite so effectively," said Dr. Robert Webster, a virologist at St . Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.

The New York Times

Try to pin down this "I," to catch or border it, and it disappears like mist or a rainbow.

Huffington Post

They preferred to put anti-Semitism in a drawer and close the drawer and hope it would disappear, like an old letter that has been around too long to answer.

The New Yorker

Morning will come and there will be a new, fresh scandal or outrage to sting us, irritate us or frighten us and then it will disappear like smoke rings from our consciousness.

The Guardian - Opinion

For it to all just disappear like it did through no fault of my own definitely makes it more frustrating in a way.

BBC

It's possible to imagine scenarios where such a transition could fail to produce a noticeable change, but that is by no means guaranteed; if meaningful changes do occur, matter as we know it would most likely disappear, like ice crystals on a warm, sunny morning.

The New Yorker

It's about trust, as much as violence and I hope it doesn't disappear like Cronenberg's shockingly underrated last film, Spider.

The Guardian - Film

And you sometimes wish it would just disappear like Sue Storm Jessica Albaa), the Invisible Woman".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using similes to describe disappearance, ensure the comparison is vivid and easily understood by your audience. For example, instead of saying "it disappear like something", try "it disappears like smoke in the wind."

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb "disappear" with a singular subject "it". The correct form is "disappears". Therefore, always use "it disappears like" instead of "it disappear like".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it disappear like" functions as part of a simile, attempting to draw a comparison between something vanishing and another object or phenomenon. However, the grammatical error detracts from its effectiveness. Ludwig AI indicates grammatical inaccuracy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it disappear like" is an attempted simile to describe something vanishing in a certain manner. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "it disappears like". Despite the grammatical error, the phrase appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in News & Media. When aiming for clarity and correctness, using alternatives such as "it vanishes like" or "it fades away like" is advisable. Ensure the verb form agrees with the subject "it" for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it vanishes like

Replaces "disappear" with "vanishes", maintaining the simile structure but with a slightly different verb.

it fades away like

Uses "fades away" to convey a gradual disappearance, adding a sense of gradual decline.

it melts away like

Implies a disappearance similar to something melting, suggesting a transformation or dissolution.

it dissipates like

Replaces "disappear" with "dissipates", suggesting a scattering or spreading out until it's gone.

it evaporates like

Suggests a disappearance similar to water turning into vapor, indicating a complete transformation and removal.

it dematerializes like

Emphasizes a sudden and almost magical disappearance, often used in science fiction contexts.

it is gone like

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct statement of something being absent, losing the nuanced comparison.

it ceased to exist like

Replaces "disappear" with a more formal and definitive expression of non-existence.

it is no more like

Emphasizes the state of being gone or finished, often with a touch of finality.

it is as if it never existed

Expresses complete obliteration, suggesting the thing in question never actually was.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "it disappear like" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct phrase is "it disappears like". Use it to create a simile describing how something vanishes or ceases to exist in a way that resembles something else. Example: "The magician made the rabbit "it disappears like" a puff of smoke".

What are some alternatives to "it disappear like"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it vanishes like", "it fades away like", or "it melts away like", each conveying a slightly different nuance of disappearance.

Which is grammatically correct: "it disappear like" or "it disappears like"?

"It disappears like" is the grammatically correct form. The verb "disappear" must agree with the singular subject "it", requiring the -s ending in the present tense.

What's the difference between saying "it disappears like smoke" and "it vanishes like smoke"?

While both phrases are similar, "disappears" suggests a more common or expected vanishing, whereas "vanishes" can imply a sudden or mysterious disappearance. The choice depends on the specific context and the effect you want to create.