lost to smoking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost to smoking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has suffered negative consequences or has been defeated by the effects of smoking, often in a health context. Example: "He was once a promising athlete, but he ultimately lost to smoking, which took a toll on his health and career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Other advertisements that the health department sponsored featured a grizzled smoker who talked through a voice box and a woman named "Marie" from the Bronx who showed off what appeared to be fingers whose tips had been lost to smoking.

The New York Times

Moreover, the years lost to smoking come from the end of life, when people are most likely to die of something else anyway.

The Economist

George Butterworth, Cancer Research UK's tobacco policy manager, said steps to tackle the 100,000 lives a year lost to smoking should continue and described the proposal as an interesting idea.

The Guardian

Examining the effects of his pot-smoking days, memoirist Nic Sheff put it best on the website, The Fix, when he wrote: "For me, all these years later, I still suffer from all the fucking decades I lost to smoking pot.

Huffington Post

However, in this survey the majority of respondents believed smoking prevalence within the general and elderly populations to be in excess of published statistics, and few reported an awareness of the number of life years lost to smoking related disease.

BMC Family Practice

An assessment of participants' knowledge was made by asking respondents to select the correct answer from a choice of five possible answers to questions relating to the prevalence of smoking within both the general population in England, the prevalence of smoking in people over 65 years, and the number of life years lost to smoking related disease; an option of "don't know" was included.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I was lost to society: smoking pot, sleeping outside.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In 1996, they accounted for almost 84% of the 16,875 deaths caused by smoking, and almost 78% of the 242,138 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) that were lost due to smoking [ 9].

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

We assessed assumptions underpinning analysis in each study and substituted conservative results where assumptions may have been generous (e.g. we assumed smoking cessation participants lost to follow up had resumed smoking).

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

So far, so straightforward, but suddenly La Havas lost inspiration and days, and then weeks, were lost to drinking tea and smoking.

The Guardian - Music

Therefore, in the current study the changes in smoking status would have had limited influence on the estimated LE lost due to smoking and the contributions of smoking-related diseases to the life years lost.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "lost to smoking" to concisely convey the significant negative consequences of smoking, such as health issues or premature death, avoiding overly clinical or detailed language in general communications.

Common error

Avoid sensationalizing the effects of smoking. While impactful, using overly emotional language can detract from the message's credibility. Instead, focus on the concrete consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost to smoking" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the cause or reason for a loss. It typically describes a negative outcome, such as death or severe health problems, that results directly from smoking. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lost to smoking" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that effectively conveys the negative consequences of smoking. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for describing situations where smoking has resulted in significant harm, such as health issues or premature death. While the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science, its neutral to formal register makes it appropriate for various contexts. Related phrases include "defeated by smoking" and "overcome by smoking", each offering a slightly different nuance. When using the phrase, be mindful of maintaining a credible and factual tone, avoiding excessive dramatization. In summary, "lost to smoking" is a concise and impactful way to communicate the serious repercussions of smoking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defeated by smoking

Replaces 'lost' with 'defeated', emphasizing the negative outcome caused by smoking.

overcome by smoking

Similar to 'defeated', but suggests a gradual and overwhelming effect of smoking.

succumbed to smoking

Implies a yielding to the harmful effects of smoking, often leading to death or severe illness.

claimed by smoking

Presents smoking as an active agent that takes away life or health.

a casualty of smoking

Frames the person as a victim of the dangers of smoking.

destroyed by smoking

Emphasizes the destructive power of smoking on one's health and life.

ravaged by smoking

Highlights the severe and damaging effects of smoking over time.

impacted by smoking

General term for the effects of smoking.

affected by smoking

Similar to 'impacted by smoking', but slightly less strong in its implication.

harmed by smoking

Directly states the detrimental effects of smoking.

FAQs

How can I use "lost to smoking" in a sentence?

You can use "lost to smoking" to describe someone who has died or suffered significant harm due to smoking-related illnesses. For example, "Many lives are "lost to smoking" each year due to lung cancer".

What's a more formal alternative to "lost to smoking"?

In a formal context, you might prefer phrases like "deceased due to smoking-related illnesses" or "suffered mortality attributable to smoking". These alternatives provide a more clinical and precise tone while conveying the same meaning.

What can I say instead of "lost to smoking" in casual conversation?

In casual settings, consider using phrases like "died from smoking", "smoking got the better of them", or "smoking took their life". These are more straightforward and easily understood in informal contexts.

Is it appropriate to use "lost to smoking" when discussing long-term health effects?

Yes, "lost to smoking" can refer both to death and to significant long-term health issues. For instance, you could say someone's quality of life was "impacted by smoking", meaning they "lost" years of healthy living due to smoking-related diseases.