makes no headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "makes no headway" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where progress is not being made or where efforts are ineffective. Example: Despite their efforts, the team makes no headway in resolving the issue. Alternative expressions include "makes no progress" and "gains no ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Even an articulate, sympathetic lawyer (Campbell Scott) makes no headway.

The New York Times

David Cameron and George Osborne are bent on an austerity far harsher even than Thatcher's, heading for a size of state permanently below anything she dared, yet Labour lands no blows, makes no headway.

The Guardian - Opinion

The question is whether it prompts the kind of energetic, critically engaged citizenship Ramadan calls for, or whether - a danger he well knows - it makes no headway against the satisfactions of complaint.

The Guardian

Plenty of noise inside the Etihad as Raheem Sterling has a couple of early touches but makes no headway into the Bournemouth penalty area.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The French president made no headway.

The Guardian

Negotiations have made no headway so far.

The New York Times

[U.N. envoy Lakhdar] Brahimi has been making no headway diplomatically.

The New York Times

International mediators and Western diplomats have made no headway.

The Economist

The summit made no headway in doing so.

The Economist

Unlike at Lord's he could make no headway.

The Guardian - Sport

A Pleasant Sort could make no headway: Typecast showed little.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase is particularly effective when contrasting strong efforts with disappointing outcomes

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly try to quantify the phrase by saying "makes a headway". Since "headway" is an uncountable noun in this idiomatic sense, you should say "makes some headway" or "makes no headway" rather than using an indefinite article.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "makes no headway" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase where the verb "make" is negated by the determiner "no" modifying the noun "headway". According to Ludwig, it serves to describe a state of stagnation or the failure of an initiative to move forward.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "makes no headway" is a highly reliable and sophisticated way to indicate that an effort is not yielding results. Ludwig AI data reveals that it is a favorite among top-tier journalists at The New York Times and The Economist, appearing in contexts ranging from international diplomacy and financial markets to sports and technical research. It is grammatically classified as a Correct verb phrase and is most effective when used to describe complex, ongoing struggles where progress is expected but remains elusive. To vary your writing, consider using alternatives like "gains no ground" or "makes no progress" depending on the specific nuance of your sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

makes no progress

A direct, non-idiomatic synonym suitable for any context

gains no ground

Emphasizes the lack of territorial or positional advancement

gets nowhere

A more informal and conversational way to express the same idea

makes no dent

Suggests that even minor progress or impact is missing

fails to advance

Focuses on the lack of forward movement in a formal tone

spinning its wheels

Implies a lot of activity and effort but zero actual results

reaches an impasse

Specific to negotiations or processes that have come to a dead end

hits a brick wall

Idiomatic expression for being stopped by an insurmountable obstacle

stands still

Literal or figurative lack of movement without implying effort

makes no strides

Uses the metaphor of physical steps to describe lack of development

FAQs

Is it correct to say "makes no headway"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is frequently used in high-quality journalism to describe a lack of progress or improvement.

What is the difference between "makes no headway" and "makes no progress"?

While both mean the same thing, "makes no headway" is slightly more idiomatic and often implies overcoming resistance, whereas "makes no progress" is more literal and neutral.

Can I use "makes no headway" in a formal report?

Absolutely. It is common in professional and news contexts. For a more direct alternative, you might use "fails to progress" or "remains stagnant".

Does "makes no headway" require a preposition?

It can be used alone, but it often takes "against" when referring to opposition (e.g., "headway against the wind") or "in" when referring to a field of study or process (e.g., "headway in negotiations").