lost their fortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost their fortune" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has experienced a significant loss of wealth or financial resources. Example: "After the market crash, many investors lost their fortune and struggled to recover financially."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The Diaghilevs made and lost their fortune in vodka distilleries.

The New York Times - Books

Ivanhoe tells of the fortunes of an old Anglo-Saxon family who have lost their fortune under the Norman dynasty.

The Guardian - Books

The rest of the sheet is filled with trompe l'oeil ballad broadsides, presenting overlapping stories about people who lost their fortune in the scandal of 1720.

Princeton University

And, finally, there's Justin, the lonely businessman adopted into a wealthy Malaysian family, who has lost his way while his family have lost their fortune.

The Guardian - Books

The Jacirs lost their fortune in the crash of the 1930s and the home was sold; it has been a prison and a school and now forms part of the Intercontinental Hotel.

The Guardian - Film

The laugh is now on him: the Roses have lost their fortune thanks to an indiscreet business manager and must decamp to Schitt's Creek, their one remaining asset, with their grownup children, Alexis Annie Murphyy, who makes a lovable spoiled brat) and David Dann Levy, Eugene's real-life son, with the eyebrows to prove it).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Many of the families we knew and grew up with lost their fortunes.

The Guardian

Workers at Amalgamated Bank, which opened a branch in an underserved section of Long Island City two years ago, continue to answer questions from potential customers who came from countries where friends and relatives lost their fortunes to collapsed or corrupt banks.

The New York Times

"Banks were lending as much as 20 million yen to their customers to get them to become members of golf courses," said Seijiro Takayama, a lawyer who has represented many people who have lost their fortunes in memberships that have turned worthless, but with little success.

The New York Times

I have friends who lost their fortunes.

Forbes

Many died and some lost their fortunes in divorces or diluted them among heirs, but most were simply elbowed aside by up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lost their fortune", ensure the context clearly indicates what caused the financial loss. Provide specific details if possible to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "their fortune was lost" when the active voice ("they lost their fortune") is more direct and engaging. Active voice enhances the narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost their fortune" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a past action. It describes the act of losing a significant amount of wealth. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

18%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lost their fortune" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression signifying a substantial financial setback. Ludwig AI affirms its validity for use in the English language. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media contexts, and to a lesser extent in encyclopedias and academic papers. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, it can be enhanced through context with details. Alternatives like "suffered financial ruin" or "became impoverished" offer subtly different nuances depending on the specific narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Suffered financial ruin

Highlights the disastrous nature of the financial loss.

Were financially devastated

Emphasizes the severe impact of the financial loss.

Wiped out financially

Emphasizes the totality of the financial loss.

Became impoverished

Focuses on the resulting state of being poor after losing wealth.

Fell into poverty

Emphasizes the descent into a state of poverty.

Reduced to destitution

Emphasizes the severe poverty resulting from the loss.

Became bankrupt

Focuses on the legal state of bankruptcy.

Drained of all resources

Focuses on the depletion of all available financial resources.

Their assets were depleted

Highlights that all assets are gone

Squandered their wealth

Highlights the mismanagement or waste of wealth.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "lost their fortune"?

Saying someone "lost their fortune" means they experienced a significant loss of wealth or financial resources, often due to unforeseen circumstances, poor investments, or economic downturns.

What can I say instead of "lost their fortune"?

You can use alternatives like "suffered financial ruin", "became impoverished", or "fell into poverty" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "lost their fortune"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "lost their fortune". The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What are some common reasons why people might "lose their fortune"?

People might "lose their fortune" due to various reasons, including poor investments, economic recessions, business failures, gambling debts, or unforeseen personal disasters like lawsuits or medical expenses.