struggle to the surface

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggle to the surface" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something, such as an emotion or thought, is emerging or becoming apparent after being hidden or suppressed. Example: "After weeks of keeping her feelings bottled up, she finally felt the need to struggle to the surface and express her true emotions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Beneath an orchestral glaze of indeterminacy, 19th-century hymn tunes, marches and popular songs struggle to the surface and then recede.

The New York Times - Arts

What was dragged under may struggle to the surface.

Huffington Post

Still, a lot of what Will went through was internalized, and his interactions with people already deeply entrenched in his life could only bring so much of that emotional struggle to the surface.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He says he unzipped his trousers, wriggled free, ripped off his shirt, pushed through a mass of flailing bodies to the top of the cabin, before forcing his way through an open window and struggling to the surface.

The Guardian

Charles Ives ended his three-movement Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello with "Rock of Ages" struggling to the surface, then sinking back, taking the rest of the music with it.

The New York Times - Arts

At the bottom of the press release, the truth struggles to the surface.

Huffington Post

The older I got, though, the more I was pulled toward pure craft, unalloyed accuracy, the struggle to translate the surface of the world into a sentence or a sketch.

The New Yorker

What he is miming is the struggle to reach the surface through the turbulence of a large wave.

The New Yorker

But it feels as if she is struggling to turn the surface flash of old-time musicals (much head-tossing and world-weary posing) into naturalistic angst (weighted pauses and intense gazes).

The New York Times

Imagine being trapped 100 feet underwater in a massive net, struggling to reach the surface and unable to breathe.

Huffington Post

A lot of struggle at the surface.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "struggle to the surface" when you want to emphasize a difficult or labored emergence, whether literal or figurative. It's effective for describing a hard-won revelation or the difficult ascent of something from a hidden state.

Common error

Avoid using "struggle to the surface" when a simpler term like "emerge", "appear", or "surface" would suffice. The phrase carries a connotation of difficulty that should be relevant to the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle to the surface" functions as a verb phrase describing an arduous effort to reach a visible or accessible state. It often suggests overcoming resistance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's valid and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struggle to the surface" denotes a difficult emergence, whether literal or figurative, often implying the overcoming of resistance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's most common in News & Media and Science contexts. For similar expressions, consider alternatives such as "fight to emerge" or "labor to break through". Remember to reserve "struggle to the surface" for situations where the difficulty of emergence is a key aspect of the message, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try to surface

A more direct and concise version, removing the sense of difficulty.

fight to emerge

Focuses on the effort to come out.

labor to break through

Emphasizes hard work and overcoming resistance to get free.

endeavor to rise

Highlights the attempt to ascend, often in a metaphorical sense.

strive to overcome

Focuses on battling and conquering obstacles to get somewhere or something.

work to materialize

Emphasizes effort to turn something into reality.

attempt to reach the top

Shifts the focus from struggling to the goal of reaching the summit or highest point.

fight for visibility

Emphasizes the battle to be noticed or seen.

battle to become apparent

Highlights the conflict to become evident or clear.

scramble to get out

A more frantic and desperate version, implying a sense of panic.

FAQs

How can I use "struggle to the surface" in a sentence?

You can use "struggle to the surface" to describe a literal physical effort, like a swimmer struggling to reach the surface of the water, or metaphorically, such as suppressed memories struggling to the surface of one's consciousness.

What are some alternatives to "struggle to the surface"?

Alternatives include "fight to emerge", "labor to break through", or simply "try to surface", depending on the desired emphasis and nuance.

Is it correct to say "struggling to the surface" instead of "struggle to the surface"?

Yes, "struggling to the surface" is a grammatically correct progressive form, indicating an ongoing effort. "Struggle to the surface" is more general, describing the inherent nature of an action or a hypothetical situation.

When is it appropriate to use "struggle to the surface" metaphorically?

It's appropriate when describing the difficult or labored emergence of something intangible, such as feelings, memories, ideas, or truths that have been suppressed, hidden, or obscured. For example, "After years of repression, her buried emotions began to struggle to the surface".