make a strong showing

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a strong showing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone has performed well or achieved something noteworthy. For example: "She made a strong showing in the debate and proved herself to be a formidable opponent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Open-face sandwiches on chewy, caky dark rye bread do not make a strong showing.

The New York Times - Food

Le Pen is running again for the French presidency next year and polls suggest she could make a strong showing.

The Guardian

With ratings high and political opponents weak and divided, his Liberal Democratic Party is likely to make a strong showing.

The New York Times

Mr. Forbes's advisers are playing down his chances, even saying they would not be surprised if he came in third, clearly hoping that if he does make a strong showing it will exceed expectations.

The New York Times

From the French school, a landscape by Claude Lorrain, a scene of battling horses by Géricault, a stately portrait by Ingres, one of Seurat's brilliant drawings in black crayon showing a French vaudeville scene, and works by Toulouse-Lautrec anDegasas make a strong showing.

The New York Times - Arts

Science, technology, math and engineering majors make a strong showing.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Starters made a strong showing.

The New York Times

Andy Warhol also made a strong showing.

The New York Times

Female shoppers also made a strong showing.

The New York Times

Despite markets drifting again, technology shares made a strong showing.

The Guardian - Business

But among more moderate likely caucus-goers, national front-runner Rudolph W. Giuliani makes a strong showing.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a strong showing" when you want to emphasize that someone or something performed better than expected, especially in a competitive situation or election.

Common error

While "make a strong showing" is acceptable in news and business contexts, avoid it in very casual conversation. Opt for more informal alternatives like "do well" or "shine" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a strong showing" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the act of performing well or achieving a better-than-expected result in a particular event or competition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and readily usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a strong showing" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe performing better than expected, especially in competitive situations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for news, business, and other formal contexts. While it's not typically used in casual conversation, it's a valuable phrase for conveying notable achievements. Alternatives like "perform admirably" or "do well" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. The phrase appears frequently in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do well

A simple, general way to describe successful performance.

deliver a stellar performance

Highlights the high quality and outstanding nature of the performance.

perform admirably

Focuses on the quality of the performance, emphasizing its admirable nature.

fare well

A more general way of saying someone or something did well.

achieve a notable result

Highlights the outcome, emphasizing the noteworthiness of the achievement.

excel

Focuses on surpassing expectations and demonstrating exceptional performance.

impress greatly

Emphasizes the impact and positive impression created by the performance.

put up a good fight

Implies effort and resilience in the face of challenge, even if not ultimately successful.

shine

Suggests standing out and performing exceptionally well.

come out on top

Emphasizes achieving victory or the best outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "make a strong showing" in a sentence?

You can use "make a strong showing" to describe a performance that exceeded expectations. For example, "The team is hoping to "make a strong showing" in the upcoming tournament".

What does "make a strong showing" mean?

"Make a strong showing" means to perform well or achieve a better result than anticipated, especially in a competition or election.

Which is a better phrase, "make a good impression" or "make a strong showing"?

The better phrase depends on the context. "Make a good impression" refers to creating a positive perception, while "make a strong showing" refers to performing well in a competitive situation.

What can I say instead of "make a strong showing"?

You can use alternatives like "perform admirably", "do well", or "achieve a notable result" depending on the context.