losing start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "losing start" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a poor beginning or an unfavorable initial situation, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "After a losing start to the season, the team worked hard to improve their performance."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

SHANGHAI (AP) — Michael Phelps got off to a losing start at the world championships, and it was not his fault.

The New York Times - Sports

Birmingham are eager to take something from the clash following a losing start on home turf against group favourites Braga.

The Guardian - Sport

In the process they made it a losing start for Benítez on a night that demonstrated why his team have found goals so elusive this season.

The Guardian - Sport

Emmanuel Badu's first-half goal for Udinese ensured a losing start for Montella, whose predecessor at Sampdoria, Walter Zenga, was fired after only 14 matches.

The Guardian - Sport

NETHERLANDS 3, ENGLAND 2 Stuart Pearce got off to a losing start as England's coach, with Arjen Robben scoring in stoppage time to give the Netherlands an exhibition victory in Wembley, England.

The New York Times - Sports

Gary Neville got off to a losing start as the new manager of Valencia on Wednesday, but to Manchester United fans and, now, Sky Sports viewers, he'll always be a winner.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The Wildcats have three losses in the 10 games since losing starting forward Brandon Ashley to a season-ending injury.

Los Angeles Times

Only a very small percentage (0.92 %) of high impact polymorphisms (e.g., stop lost, start lost and stop gained, etc).

BMC Genomics

Not getting lost starts long before getting to the trailhead.

The Guardian - Travel

Pittsburgh lost starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a few weeks ago and Sunday it lost Michael Vick, twice.

The Guardian - Sport

Kansas City went 0-4 in the preseason, and lost starting TE Tony Moeaki for the regular season in the process.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "losing start" is widely understood, consider using alternatives like "bad start" or "poor beginning" for clearer and more direct communication, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "losing start" in your writing. Vary your vocabulary by using alternatives like "bad beginning" or "unsuccessful commencement" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "losing start" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object to describe an initial state of failure or disadvantage. It’s used to characterize the beginning of an event, process, or period as unfavorable, as evidenced by examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Science

4%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "losing start" is commonly used to describe an unsuccessful beginning, particularly in sports and other competitive contexts. While not strictly grammatically incorrect, it can be improved upon by using alternatives like "bad start" or "poor beginning" for more clarity. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources and serves to convey a negative initial outcome or situation. Consider context and audience when deciding whether to use this phrase, opting for clearer alternatives in formal writing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Bad start

More concise and commonly used alternative.

Poor beginning

Uses a simpler adjective to describe the start.

Rough start

Suggests a start filled with challenges.

Unfavorable start

Directly indicates a negative initial situation.

Unsuccessful beginning

Replaces "losing" with a more general term for lack of success.

Unpromising opening

Highlights the lack of initial promise.

A start filled with setbacks

Expands the phrase to describe the nature of the start.

Difficult commencement

Employs more formal vocabulary.

Challenging initial phase

Focuses on the difficulties of the early period.

Inauspicious beginning

Uses a more literary and formal tone.

FAQs

What does "losing start" mean?

The phrase "losing start" refers to a bad or unsuccessful beginning to a game, competition, season, or other endeavor.

What are some alternatives to "losing start"?

You can use alternatives such as "bad start", "poor beginning", or "unsuccessful beginning" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "losing start"?

While widely used, "losing start" might be considered less grammatically precise than alternatives like "bad start" or "unpromising beginning".

How can I use "losing start" in a sentence?

You can use "losing start" to describe an initial setback, such as, "The team had a "losing start" to the season, but they eventually recovered and made the playoffs."