lost away

USAGE SUMMARY

"lost away" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
It may be used in spoken English in casual conversation, but it would not be considered grammatically correct. Example: "I'm sorry, I must have lost away when you were talking. Could you repeat what you said?" (Note: This would be better phrased as "I must have zoned out when you were talking.").

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

As he pointed out: "We haven't lost away in the Six Nations for two years".

The New York Times - Sports

We haven't lost away from home in the Six Nations for the last two years.

Independent

That slightly out-of-body feeling of extreme tiredness, low blood sugar, lost, away from home.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Indeed, the sculptures look a little lost away from their usual habitat in the more informal setting of Phnom Penh.

The Economist

A servant from Bombay who accompanies his master to Washington, D.C., Santosh is quite lost, away from his old home.

The New Yorker

Chicago came to town with a very good record of late, but true to form lost away and on turf.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Lose away to Sevilla?

The Guardian - Sport

Yet Newcastle still contrived to lose away for the eighth time in a row.

The Guardian - Sport

But after losing away to a spirited NAC, 2-1, ADO ADO, 3-0, something changed.

The Guardian - Sport

Losing away to Burnley was a disappointment on a few levels.

The Guardian - Sport

They then split their games against Chelsea in the 2006-07 group stage, winning at home and losing away.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a loss in a location other than one's home, use more precise and grammatically standard phrases such as "lost the away match" or "were defeated on the road" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "lost away" in formal writing. It's not a recognized idiom, and while understandable, it can detract from the professionalism and clarity of your writing. Opt for alternatives like "lost the away game" or "were defeated on the road".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost away" functions as a verb phrase indicating a defeat or loss occurring in a location that is not the subject's home. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as not being grammatically correct. While present in various sources, it often serves as a colloquial shorthand rather than a standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lost away" is found in various contexts, it is not considered grammatically correct. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is better to use alternative and more precise phrases like "lost the away match" or "were defeated on the road". These alternatives provide clarity and maintain a higher level of professionalism in writing. The phrase's informal nature and grammatical ambiguity make it less suitable for formal or academic contexts. When aiming for precision and clarity, especially in professional or academic writing, opting for more established and grammatically sound alternatives is always advisable. Keep in mind that frequency doesn't always equate to correctness; thus, prioritize accuracy over colloquial usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lost the away match

This is a very commonly used alternative to signify losing a match that happens in a location other than the team's location.

suffered a setback during the away game

This is frequently used in sports context to denote a loss in an away game.

lost on the road

This alternative focuses on the journey or travel aspect of being away from home, highlighting that the loss occurred during transit or competition held during transit.

experienced defeat while traveling

This is a more direct and literal alternative, simply stating that the loss occurred while the subject was traveling.

unsuccessful on tour

This applies specifically to situations where a team or individual is traveling for a series of events or performances, and experiences a loss during that tour.

beaten in enemy territory

This alternative emphasizes the adversarial nature of the situation, suggesting that the loss occurred in a place controlled or defended by an opponent.

defeated in foreign lands

This option provides a more formal and dramatic way to express losing in another country or territory, often used in historical or literary contexts.

overcome overseas

This suggests the team was beaten when overseas.

vanquished abroad

Similar to "defeated in foreign lands", this phrase uses stronger, more archaic language to describe a loss in a foreign location.

succumbed to defeat in a distant location

This is a more verbose and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the distance and the act of yielding to a loss.

FAQs

What does "lost away" mean?

While not grammatically correct, "lost away" generally means to experience a defeat or loss in a location that is not one's home or usual place, such as in sports or competitions.

Is it correct to say "lost away"?

No, "lost away" is not considered grammatically correct in formal English. Better alternatives include "lost the away match" or "were defeated on the road".

What are some alternatives to "lost away" in sports contexts?

In sports, you can use phrases like "lost the away game", "were defeated on the road", or "suffered a setback during the away game" to describe a team's loss when playing in another team's location.

How can I use "lost away" in a sentence correctly?

While the phrase is not formally correct, you're better off rephrasing it. Instead of "They lost away", say "they lost the away match" or "they were defeated on the road" for clarity.