lost success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost success" is not commonly used in written English and may be confusing without context.
It could be used to describe a situation where someone has experienced a failure after previously achieving success, but clarity is needed. Example: "After years of hard work, she felt the weight of lost success when her business failed."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Final hurdles: Murray in last four 2009 Lost Success at Queen's inspired the Scot to reach the last four for the first time.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Bejar has not had heady, plot-losing success, but he calls his latest record "the biggest work of fiction I've ever written; like coming to a lost diary with every four pages torn out".

The Guardian - Music

I would conclude then that success goes much deeper than just winning or losing, success is the measure of the attitude towards the journey.

BBC

Two RCAF bombers were lost without success.

Wikipedia

Failure to do so would be a lost opportunity; success would ensure that national policies are set in place to forestall an increase in these modifiable risk factors which would hold back the growing NCD pandemic in these countries.

Global Health Action

The other night, out of curiosity, I went to Film Forum to see Marion Davies in "Show People" (1928), a fascinating silent film which spoofs Hollywood filmmaking and which follows a narrative trajectory similar to the "The Artist": a pretty, ambitious girl comes to Hollywood, bluffs her way onto a comedy set, finds success, loses love to success, and re-finds it.

The New Yorker

If owners and players forget what made them successful, they will surely lose that success.

The New York Times - Sports

Homer loses his success to Barney, and Mayor Quimby retrieves the key to the city from Homer and gives it to Barney.

Wikipedia

I went on to talk about the pros and cons; awards can intensify competition, impact self-esteem, get parents too involved and add tension among coaches, but they also teach kids about winning and losing, about success and failure.

Huffington Post

First, that the progress of children can be a major driver of sustainable development; second, children are stakeholders in a sustainable world – the ones with the most to gain and the most to lose from success or failure; and finally children can and should be major participants in and contributors to a healthy, sustainable planet.

Unicef

Initially, she sought a position similar to the one she had lost, but without success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "lost success", clarify what specific actions or events led to the decline from a successful state. Be explicit to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Do not use "lost success" without specifying the area or type of achievement that was diminished. For example, instead of saying "They experienced lost success", specify "They experienced lost success in their marketing campaign."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost success" functions as a noun phrase that describes a state of having previously achieved something positive but subsequently losing that achievement. It suggests a transition from a successful state to one of decline or failure. The limited examples that Ludwig provides highlight the phrase's use in various contexts, yet its usage remains infrequent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost success" describes a past achievement that has since diminished or disappeared. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI flags it as not commonly used and somewhat ambiguous, suggesting the need for clear context to avoid confusion. Alternative phrases like "diminished accomplishment" or "eroded gains" may provide greater clarity or formality depending on the writing context. When using "lost success", be sure to specify the area in which the success was lost to avoid vague references.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lost advantage

Highlights the loss of a favorable position previously gained through success.

diminished accomplishment

Indicates the success is less significant than before.

eroded gains

Implies a gradual loss of what was achieved.

squandered achievement

Suggests the achievement was wasted foolishly.

waning victory

Suggests the success is fading or declining.

dissipated gains

Implies the benefits of success were scattered and lost.

forfeited triumph

Implies the success was given up or lost as a penalty.

relinquished lead

Suggests losing a position of advantage.

reversed fortunes

Indicates a change from success to failure.

failed to capitalize

Focuses on the inability to maintain or leverage a previous win.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lost success" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases like "diminished accomplishment", "eroded gains", or "reversed fortunes" to achieve a more formal tone.

Is it better to say "loss of success" or "lost success"?

"Loss of success" is generally more grammatically standard and easier to understand. "Lost success" can sound awkward, depending on the context.

What does it mean to say someone experienced "lost success"?

It means they achieved a level of success in the past, but that success has diminished or disappeared over time. The reasons for this decline can vary.

Which words are close to "lost success"?

Synonyms include "failed achievement", "missed opportunity", and "waning victory". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuances you want to convey.