making up lost ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making up lost ground" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of recovering or compensating for a deficit or disadvantage in a particular situation. Example: "After falling behind in the competition, the team focused on making up lost ground in the final weeks of the season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Making up lost ground is... critical in ending the pay squeeze in the UK.

The Guardian - Business

Two months ago, Rogge led a three-day inspection of Athens that gave the organizing committee good marks for making up lost ground.

The New York Times - Sports

President Clinton brought new conviction to the task, nominating 13 African-Americans thus far, but he is still making up lost ground.

The New York Times

This year Mr Romney is heavily favoured to win the state, in part by making up lost ground in places like South Bend.Nationally, working-class whites, once the majority of the electorate, accounted for just 39% of voters in 2008.

The Economist

Manufacturing, which makes up around a tenth of the economy, is still smaller than its pre-recession peak but companies are optimistic about demand continuing to rise and output quickly making up lost ground this year, the survey suggested.

The Guardian - Business

Massachusetts launched a similar programme in the 1990s, cutting the rate of increase for teenage smokers and reducing all cigarette consumption by 30%.The politicians try to argue that they are just making up lost ground: in the past, tobacco-related health spending prevented money going on other things, says Scott Pattison, director of the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It would be bad enough if one or two classes had to make up lost ground.

The New York Times

There is little time for him to make up lost ground.

The Economist

In 2010 it made up lost ground from the recession, expanding by 12.8%.

The Economist

Bournemouth can make up lost ground by beating Bolton Wanderers on Monday night.

The Guardian - Sport

Flat broke after a series of management wrangles, the Clash were working quickly to make up lost ground.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "making up lost ground", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific deficit or setback is being addressed. Providing specific details will enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "making up lost ground" automatically implies complete recovery. The phrase only suggests an effort to compensate for past deficits; the extent of actual recovery should be explicitly stated or clearly inferred from the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making up lost ground" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating an effort to recover from a previous deficit, setback, or disadvantage. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making up lost ground" is a versatile idiom used to describe efforts to recover from a setback or deficit. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and indicates its presence across diverse contexts, from news reports to business analyses. While alternatives like "catching up" or "recovering lost time" exist, "making up lost ground" often suggests a more considerable degree of effort is required. Its frequency is classified as uncommon but it's suitable to most types of register, with highest probability of occurrence in the News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catching up

Implies a movement to reach a current standard or level.

getting back on track

Focuses on resuming a previously intended course.

recovering lost time

Focuses specifically on time as the deficit.

regaining lost momentum

Highlights the restoration of forward progress.

clawing back ground

Emphasizes a difficult or laborious recovery of position.

compensating for setbacks

Addresses the act of counterbalancing negative impacts.

recouping losses

Specifically refers to recovering financial or material losses.

bridging the gap

Suggests reducing a disparity or difference.

making amends

Implies rectifying past errors or failures.

turning the tide

Highlights a shift from a negative situation to a positive one.

FAQs

How can I use "making up lost ground" in a sentence?

Use "making up lost ground" to describe an effort to recover from a deficit or setback. For example, "After a slow start, the company is now focused on "making up lost ground" in the market."

What are some alternatives to "making up lost ground"?

Alternatives include "catching up", "recovering lost time", or "regaining lost momentum", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "making up lost ground" or "catching up"?

"Making up lost ground" generally implies a more significant deficit or setback than simply "catching up". The choice depends on the scale of the recovery effort.

What's the difference between "making up lost ground" and "regaining lost momentum"?

"Making up lost ground" refers to compensating for any kind of deficit, while "regaining lost momentum" specifically addresses the restoration of forward progress or impetus.