it lost them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it lost them" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where something has caused a loss or separation from a group or individuals. Example: "The sudden change in management was so drastic that it lost them the support of their loyal customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It lost them.

The New York Times

Worse, it lost them both badly – although the failure to make inroads against the Tories in the south is dwarfed by the extraordinary rout in Scotland.

The Guardian - Opinion

If it lost them all, Walgreen's total prescription volume for fiscal 2012, which began Sept. 1, 2011, would most likely drop 1 to 3 percent, compared to growth of about 9 percent a year for the last decade.

The New York Times

GrandMet used to own the global distribution rights to Absolut, but it lost them to Seagram in 1994, because Vin and Sprit did not want Absolut sold in tandem with the other GrandMet vodka label, Smirnoff.

The New York Times

It lost them the support of the Israeli peace movement and drove many Israeli moderates to the right.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

As John Frelinghuysen at Booz Allen, a consultancy, puts it: "AOL either trades up customers, or it loses them".AOL will now push both its own all-in-one broadband package and a separate "top-up" to a standard broadband connection.All the same, the immediate impact on profitability could be dramatic.

The Economist

Over all, he said, the Justice Department wins terrorism cases 10 times as often as it loses them.

The New York Times

I suspect that like most things, companies will insist this is axiomatic, right up the point where it loses them money, which is when things will change.

The Guardian

But there are signs that al-Shabaab is regrouping and evolving, recruiting members more quickly than it loses them and, in the words of Somalia's president, becoming "an extended hand of al-Qaida".

The Guardian

Like Jupiter, the planet starts with four large moons; but it loses them all.

Science Magazine

It loses them afterward, which is always a problem. 5. Sports teams yes, and stadia that are world class but don't cost a ton.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it lost them", ensure that the subject 'it' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The company's poor customer service lost them a significant number of clients".

Common error

Avoid using "it lost them" when the antecedent of "it" is vague or ambiguous. This can confuse the reader and weaken the clarity of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it lost them" functions as a clause within a sentence, typically serving as the predicate. It asserts that a specific subject (represented by "it") caused a loss for a group of people (represented by "them"). Ludwig confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it lost them" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate that something caused a group of people to experience a loss. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. While not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, typically in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to define the antecedent of "it" and avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "it cost them" and "it resulted in their loss" can provide nuanced variations. By adhering to these guidelines, writers can effectively use "it lost them" to convey consequence and causation in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it cost them

Highlights the price or sacrifice involved in losing something.

it resulted in their loss

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of an action, highlighting the loss as a result.

it caused them to forfeit

Emphasizes the act of losing something due to a specific cause.

it led to their dispossession

Highlights the act of being deprived of something, often property or rights.

it deprived them of

Stresses the action of taking something away from someone.

it incurred their separation

Highlights the action of being separated from something or someone.

it made them relinquish

Focuses on the act of voluntarily giving up something.

it brought about their defeat

Focuses on the outcome, indicating a loss or failure as a result of something.

it entailed their forfeiture

Emphasizes that losing something was a necessary consequence.

it forwent their possession

Focuses on the act of voluntarily giving up or doing without something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "it lost them"?

You can rephrase it as "it cost them", "it resulted in their loss", or "it led to their dispossession" depending on the context.

Is "it lost them" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it lost them" is grammatically correct when used to indicate that something caused someone to lose something, such as support, customers, or rights. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

What does "it lost them" mean?

"It lost them" means that something caused a group of people to no longer have something, such as support, customers, or a competitive advantage. For example, "The controversial decision it made lost them the support of many voters".

When is it appropriate to use "it lost them" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "it lost them" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or event resulted in a loss for a particular group. Ensure the antecedent of "it" is clear to avoid confusion.