never show up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never show up" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to not attend or appear at a planned event or meeting. Example: Despite promising to come, John never showed up to the party last night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It would never show up".

The New Yorker

"They never show up or call".

The New York Times - Tech

Some talents just never show up on one's résumé.

The New York Times

About 2,000 infected Romanians never show up for treatment.

The New York Times

Senior figures promise to appear but never show up; requests for meetings go unanswered.

The Economist

"I would never show up in a restaurant for dinner without being hungry," she said.

The New York Times - Magazine

And it's almost a given that they never show up when or where they're supposed to.

The New York Times

Some people she approaches act enthusiastic, then never show up for rehearsal.

The Guardian

They will assign detectives, but the detectives will never show up, because nobody ever investigates anything".

The New York Times

So there's a lot of characters I play, but I never show up as Martin Short".

The New York Times

Because disguising subsidies as tax deductions means they never show up on Congress's list of expenditures.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider alternatives like "fail to appear" or "not attend" for a more professional tone. While "never show up" is acceptable, it might sound too casual in some contexts.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when using the phrase "never show up". For example, don't mix past and present tenses within the same sentence unless logically required. Instead of "He promised he will never show up", use "He promised he would never show up" or "He promises he will never show up."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never show up" functions as a verbal phrase expressing the act of failing to appear or attend. Ludwig examples show its use in describing people who miss appointments, items that don't appear in stores, and even abstract concepts that remain unfulfilled.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never show up" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the idea of not attending or appearing at a scheduled event or meeting. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, it's important to consider the level of formality required. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "fail to appear" or "not attend" might be more appropriate. The phrase's versatility and frequency make it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary, but being mindful of the context is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be a no-show

This option is more casual and often used to describe someone who was expected but didn't arrive.

not turn up

This phrase is a more informal and common alternative, particularly in British English.

not attend

This is a straightforward and neutral way of saying someone didn't go to something.

fail to appear

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the lack of appearance at a specific event or location.

skip the event

This option implies a deliberate choice to avoid attending the event.

miss the appointment

This alternative specifies that the absence is from a scheduled appointment.

not be present

This alternative is a slightly more formal way of saying someone wasn't there.

be absent

A formal way to indicate a lack of presence.

default on

In certain contexts, such as obligations or promises, defaulting can mean failing to show up.

play hooky

This phrase is informal and suggests avoiding a responsibility, like school or work.

FAQs

What does "never show up" mean?

The phrase "never show up" means to not attend or appear at a planned event, meeting, or appointment. It implies a complete absence.

What's a more formal way to say "never show up"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "fail to appear" or "not attend".

When is it appropriate to use "never show up"?

The phrase "never show up" is suitable for informal and neutral contexts. Use it when describing someone's absence in everyday situations or news reports. In professional or academic settings, more formal alternatives may be preferable.

What's the difference between "never show up" and "be a no-show"?

While both phrases indicate absence, "never show up" implies a general pattern or future intention, whereas "be a no-show" typically refers to a specific instance of failing to appear.