never took off

USAGE SUMMARY

"never took off" is a correctly formed and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase in instances where someone has started or attempted something but failed to get the desired result; for example, "John tried to launch his own business, but it never took off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It never took off.

The New York Times - Tech

Kill! Kill!," never took off.

The New Yorker

"That's why soccer never took off.

The New Yorker

"His career never took off.

The New York Times - Sports

The flight never took off.

The New York Times - Style

His plane never took off.

The New York Times

The group never took off.

The New York Times - Magazine

(The industry never took off).

The New York Times - Arts

Tarka's solo musical career never took off.

Independent

But Japanese inflation never took off.

The New York Times

Some never took off their coats.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "never took off", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific endeavor, project, or idea failed to gain momentum or achieve success. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "never took off" when describing something that is still in progress or has not yet had sufficient time to demonstrate its potential. The phrase implies a concluded lack of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never took off" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a particular venture, idea, or product failed to gain popularity, momentum, or success. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never took off" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that failed to achieve success or gain momentum. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used across reputable sources, especially in news and media. Alternatives include "failed to launch" or "didn't gain traction". When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what did not succeed and that sufficient time has passed to assess the outcome accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to launch

This alternative emphasizes the initial inability to start successfully, differing slightly from the continued lack of progress implied by the original phrase.

didn't gain traction

Focuses on the lack of momentum or acceptance, indicating that something didn't become popular or widespread.

didn't get off the ground

This alternative means something never started or progressed beyond the initial stages.

didn't become successful

A straightforward way of saying something didn't achieve its intended success.

didn't pan out

Implies that an effort or plan did not yield the expected or desired results.

fell flat

Describes something that failed to impress or achieve its intended effect.

bombed

Suggests a complete and utter failure, often used in the context of performances or projects.

didn't flourish

Indicates a lack of growth or prosperity, suggesting something didn't thrive as expected.

came to nothing

Signifies that efforts were ultimately fruitless and did not produce any meaningful outcome.

proved unsuccessful

A formal way of stating that something didn't achieve the desired result or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "never took off" in a sentence?

You can use "never took off" to describe something that didn't become popular or successful. For example, "The app had a lot of hype, but it "never took off"."

What can I say instead of "never took off"?

Alternatives to "never took off" include "failed to launch", "didn't gain traction", or "didn't become successful", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "never took off" or "never taken off"?

"Never took off" is used in the past tense to describe something that didn't become successful. "Never taken off" would be used as part of a more complex verb construction, such as "It has never taken off."

What's the difference between "never took off" and "didn't get off the ground"?

While similar, "never took off" implies a more prolonged period of failure to gain momentum, whereas "didn't get off the ground" often refers to a failure to even begin successfully. Both indicate a lack of success, but the latter emphasizes the initial phase.