it gets unmanageable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it gets unmanageable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or task that becomes difficult to control or handle over time. Example: "As the project progressed, it gets unmanageable, and we struggled to meet the deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It gets unmanageable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Multiply that by thousands of students and the bill gets unmanageable very quickly.

The New York Times - Tech

My voice had gotten unmanageable.

The Guardian - Music

"I wasn't going to cut my nails either until we lost, but they were beginning to get unmanageable," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

By doing one or two a day you can keep up with them, and they will not get unmanageable or take up mass amounts of time on weekends or family time.

WikiHow

It's like feeding a monster; by feeding it, it gets bigger and will become unmanageable at some point!

WikiHow

If it gets full, people will likely keep piling it up until its unmanageable, so get at it as soon as possible to avoid it spilling everywhere later in the night.

WikiHow

And it was getting a bit unmanageable.

Huffington Post

But the World Bank president, Paul Wolfowitz, has criticised Chinese lending to poor countries, warning that it could get them back into unmanageable debt.

The Guardian

He said last month that it had become "unmanageable" and too expensive for some producers.

The Guardian

He says there's no risk that they will get into unmanageable debt because the banks won't extend excessive credit, calling the system "self-regulating".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it gets unmanageable" to describe a situation that is progressively becoming too difficult or complex to handle, often due to increasing factors or lack of resources. This is useful in project management, personal finance, or even describing personal stress levels.

Common error

Avoid using "it gets unmanageable" to describe a situation that was always unmanageable from the start. This phrase is better suited for scenarios where the difficulty increases over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it gets unmanageable" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing a state of progressive difficulty or loss of control. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for describing situations that escalate over time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it gets unmanageable" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a situation that progressively becomes too difficult to handle, supported by Ludwig AI's analysis. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When writing, remember that this phrase is most effective when describing conditions that worsen over time, not those that are inherently difficult from the start. For more formal settings, consider alternatives such as "it becomes overwhelming" or "it exceeds our capacity". This provides writers with clarity on its appropriate use and potential pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it becomes overwhelming

Focuses on the feeling of being overburdened, emphasizing the emotional impact of the situation.

it spirals out of control

Emphasizes the rapid and accelerating nature of the loss of control.

it escalates rapidly

Highlights the speed at which the situation is worsening.

it turns chaotic

Shifts the focus to the disorganization and confusion that arise.

it becomes too much to handle

Directly addresses the inability to manage the situation.

it exceeds our capacity

Highlights the exceeding capacity to manage the situation.

it passes the tipping point

Highlights the shift from manageable to unmanageable.

it gets out of hand

Implies a loss of control and potential for negative consequences.

it is beyond our control

Focuses on the lack of ability to influence or direct the situation.

it reaches critical mass

Describes the point at which the problem becomes self-sustaining and unstoppable.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it gets unmanageable" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, you can replace "it gets unmanageable" with phrases like "it becomes overwhelming", "it exceeds our capacity", or "it becomes unsustainable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it gets unmanageable" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "it gets unmanageable" might be considered too informal for some academic writing. Consider using more precise and formal alternatives like "it becomes increasingly complex" or "it presents significant challenges".

What's the difference between "it gets unmanageable" and "it is unmanageable"?

"It gets unmanageable" suggests a process of becoming difficult over time, whereas "it is unmanageable" implies that the situation is inherently difficult from the outset. The former is dynamic, the latter is static.

When is it appropriate to use "it gets unmanageable" in project management?

In project management, "it gets unmanageable" is appropriate when referring to scope creep, resource depletion, or increasing complexity that makes a project difficult to control or complete successfully. For example, “As the project progressed, "it gets unmanageable" and we struggled to meet the deadlines”.