lost balance

USAGE SUMMARY

"lost balance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical or figurative instability or lack of equilibrium, for example: "The candidate lost balance when trying to answer the question, and had to take a few seconds to compose himself before continuing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He often lost balance.

The New York Times - Sports

Mesmerised, I briefly lost balance and stepped too heavily.

The Guardian

He lost balance and smashed into the slope at 10.35am on Wednesday.

Independent

"The plane had lost balance, and then we saw it going down," Mr. Altaf said.

The New York Times

You pulled him off me and he lost balance and fell into the dressing table.

The New Yorker

It occurred when Johnson lost balance on a putback and fell face-first on the court.

The New York Times - Sports

No one objected so he went ahead but quickly lost balance and stepped off the bar.

The Economist

I braked immediately, but lost balance as she was shifting about so much on the back.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She described how her left foot slipped and she lost balance, falling backwards.

The Guardian

"I think she is so preoccupied with the situation of battered women and raped women that she has lost balance".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lost balance included a broad range of responses such as falling for no apparent reason, or generally losing balance when standing on an unstable surface or in a static position.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone "lost balance", be specific about the circumstances leading to the loss, such as slippery surfaces or uneven terrain. This provides a clearer picture of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "lost balance" metaphorically if the context is too abstract or unrelated to physical stability. Overusing it in non-physical scenarios can dilute its impact and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost balance" primarily functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of losing equilibrium, either physically or metaphorically. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing falls, stumbles, and figurative losses of control.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lost balance" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe both physical and figurative instability. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It frequently appears in News & Media, Science and Sports contexts. Related phrases include "lost footing" and "became unsteady". To use it effectively, be specific about the circumstances causing the instability. While authoritative sources like The New York Times frequently employ the term, avoid overuse in overly abstract, non-physical scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lost equilibrium

Uses a more formal term for balance, implying a scientific or precise context.

lost footing

Emphasizes the loss of grip or stability while standing or walking.

became unsteady

Focuses on the action of becoming unstable, rather than the completed state.

became unstable

Highlights the transition to an unstable state.

stumbled and fell

Describes the immediate consequence of losing balance.

nearly fell

Indicates a near miss of losing balance completely.

tottered

Implies an unsteady movement before potentially losing balance.

wavered

Suggests a back-and-forth movement indicating instability.

misstepped

Focuses on an error in stepping that led to a loss of balance.

upset the balance

Alters the original balance or composure.

FAQs

How can I use "lost balance" in a sentence?

You can use "lost balance" to describe a physical fall, such as "She "lost balance" on the ice and fell", or a figurative loss of control, as in "The company "lost balance" when it expanded too quickly".

What are some alternatives to "lost balance"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "lost footing", "became unsteady", or "lost equilibrium".

Is it correct to say "loses balance" instead of "lost balance"?

Yes, "loses balance" is correct, but its usage depends on the tense of the sentence. Use "loses balance" for present tense descriptions and ""lost balance"" for past tense.

What's the difference between "lost balance" and "losing balance"?

"Losing balance" describes the ongoing process of becoming unstable, while ""lost balance"" describes the completed action of having already become unstable.