sink together

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sink together" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used figuratively to describe two things combining or coming together in a unified way, like in the sentence, "The two sides of the debate had to sink together and come to an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

They sink together.

The New York Times - Arts

Until they do, we will sink together".

The New York Times

We're going to rise or sink together".

The New York Times

If it sinks, we all sink together".

The New York Times

They sink together, the big red ballast pulling them down.

The New Yorker

Do you want to say "NO" and sink together?

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Sinking together Call options Resilient wreckers Someone to watch over them Award: Ludwig Siegele Reprints.

The Economist

Sinking together Call options Resilient wreckers Someone to watch over them Award: Ludwig Siegele ReprintsMost Chinese journalists are far less scrupulous.

The Economist

Sinking together Call options Resilient wreckers Someone to watch over them Award: Ludwig Siegele Reprints Related items Electric cars: Charge!Sep 3rd 2009How big a gamble is Mr Ghosn taking?

The Economist

Sinking together Call options Resilient wreckers Someone to watch over them Award: Ludwig Siegele ReprintsThe economic crisis has put the supporters of this bit of American exceptionalism on the defensive.

The Economist

The kids were rapt as my wife and I tried to translate, but sinking together into that earth, I had a feeling I'd had at least a hundred times here.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sink together" to emphasize the interconnectedness of outcomes, suggesting that the fate of involved parties is intertwined and inseparable. This implies a shared responsibility or consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "sink together" when the outcomes are not truly interdependent. Ensure that the situation genuinely reflects a shared fate, rather than merely parallel or coincidental occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sink together" functions as a conjunction phrase, often used to express a shared negative outcome or fate. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and the examples show it depicting situations where entities are interdependent in failure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sink together" is a conjunction phrase used to express a shared negative outcome, indicating that the fates of involved parties are intertwined. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and can be used in written English. Its register is neutral, suitable for a range of contexts, with a primary presence in news and media, science, and formal business settings. When writing, it's best to employ "sink together" to highlight the interconnectedness of outcomes, ensuring a genuine interdependence is at play. Related phrases such as "fail collectively" or "be in the same boat" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be in the same boat

An idiomatic expression indicating a shared predicament.

go down together

An informal and direct way of expressing shared misfortune.

suffer the same fate

Highlights the shared experience of a negative outcome.

fail collectively

Focuses on the shared aspect of failure rather than the imagery of sinking.

perish together

Emphasizes the finality and severity of the shared negative outcome.

hang together or hang separately

Emphasizes the choice between unity and individual failure.

decline jointly

Highlights a gradual and simultaneous deterioration.

collapse in unison

Suggests a sudden and coordinated downfall.

share a common destiny

Shifts the focus to fate and intertwined outcomes, rather than failure.

rise and fall together

Expands the concept to include both success and failure as a shared experience.

FAQs

How can I use "sink together" in a sentence?

You can use "sink together" to describe situations where multiple entities will fail if one of them does. For example, "If the company fails, we all "sink together"".

What's a more formal alternative to "sink together"?

A more formal alternative could be "fail collectively" or "decline jointly", depending on the specific context.

Is "sink together" an idiom?

"Sink together" is often used idiomatically to convey the idea of shared misfortune or a common fate, though it's not always classified as a formal idiom. A closely related and definitively idiomatic expression is "be in the same boat".

What does it mean to say that two companies "sink or swim together"?

Saying two companies "sink or swim together" means their fates are intertwined; if one succeeds, the other is likely to as well, and if one fails, the other will likely also fail.