precipice of collapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precipice of collapse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation that is nearing a state of collapse or inevitable ruin. For example: "The company was teetering on the precipice of collapse due to poor management decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Funded through donations, this haven for dogs is always on the precipice of collapse.

Vice

Sleep-deprived negotiators from nearly 200 nations agreed early Sunday morning on the framework for an international climate change pact, salvaging UN talks which went 30 hours into overtime and at moments seemed on the precipice of collapse.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Many fear Nigeria is on the precipice of total collapse.

The New York Times

What he became on the American frontier — blossoming as an artist but also perhaps wavering at the precipice of mental collapse, is almost as mysterious as the missing works.

The New York Times - Arts

In short, this piece featured claims of Venezuela at the precipice of "economic collapse," and spoke in glowing terms of the opposition's hopes for a "coup" to overthrow President Maduro.

Huffington Post

The price of oil was so low four years ago because we were on the precipice of a financial collapse, and if we followed Romney's tax policies, we might find ourselves back at the same place.

Vice

But I'd never experienced it until a recent night, when I had to turn off the rant-around-the-clock shows reporting on political vandals vitiating the good name of a country they claim to love, scrapping in the weeds over nothing while dancing on the precipice of an international financial collapse.

The New York Times

No one could imagine the world's economy being pushed to the precipice by the collapse of Lehman Brothers (although numerous experts had warned about the dangers of a wildly overleveraged financial system).

Huffington Post

States of Collapse?

Forbes

After collapsing over the last two weeks to drop to the precipice of playoff elimination, the Giants must beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a 1 p.m. Eastern game Sunday and then hope for losses by Chicago, also playing at 1, and Minnesota, which is playing at 4 25.

The New York Times - Sports

The state is on the precipice of something big.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "precipice of collapse", ensure the subject is indeed facing a severe and imminent breakdown. Overusing it can dilute its impact. Reserve it for situations where failure is a real and present danger.

Common error

Avoid using "precipice of collapse" for situations that are merely difficult or challenging. This phrase implies a near-certain and rapid failure. For less critical scenarios, use phrases like "facing difficulties" or "experiencing challenges" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precipice of collapse" functions as a noun phrase acting as a prepositional complement. It describes a state or situation that is dangerously close to failure or ruin. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, emphasizing its role in depicting imminent downfall.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "precipice of collapse" effectively conveys a sense of imminent failure or ruin. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, its usage is most common in news and media contexts, lending itself to scenarios requiring a stark depiction of impending downfall. Alternatives such as "brink of failure" or "verge of disintegration" can provide similar emphasis, but it's crucial to accurately reflect the imminence and severity of the situation when employing this powerful phrase. Overstating a situation with it dilutes its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brink of failure

Changes "precipice" to "brink" and "collapse" to "failure", focusing on the nearness to a negative outcome.

verge of disintegration

Replaces "collapse" with "disintegration", emphasizing the breaking apart aspect of the situation.

edge of ruin

Substitutes "precipice" with "edge" and "collapse" with "ruin", highlighting the potential for complete devastation.

point of disintegration

Swaps "precipice" for "point" and "collapse" with "disintegration", slightly altering the imagery.

threshold of destruction

Replaces "precipice" with "threshold" and "collapse" with "destruction", emphasizing the imminence of a destructive event.

point of no return

Emphasizes the irreversibility of the situation if collapse occurs, shifting focus from the event itself to its consequences.

crisis point

This phrase directly refers to point of extreme danger, not necessarily collapse, but approaching it.

slipping into oblivion

Shifts from immediate collapse to a gradual descent into nothingness, changing the temporal aspect.

on its last legs

Uses an idiom to convey the idea of something nearing its end, a more colloquial alternative.

facing imminent downfall

Focuses on the unavoidable nature of the collapse, shifting perspective to the anticipated event.

FAQs

How can I use "precipice of collapse" in a sentence?

You can use "precipice of collapse" to describe a situation nearing complete failure. For example: "The company was on the "precipice of collapse" due to mismanagement."

What are some alternatives to "precipice of collapse"?

Alternatives include phrases like "brink of failure", "verge of disintegration", or "edge of ruin".

Is "precipice of collapse" formal or informal?

"Precipice of collapse" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in news and analytical writing. The level of formality depends mostly on the source of the text.

What does "precipice of collapse" imply?

It implies that a situation is dangerously close to failing or disintegrating. It suggests a high degree of risk and potential for negative consequences.