survive like that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "survive like that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone is managing to continue living or existing under certain conditions or circumstances. Example: "I don't know how she manages to survive like that, with so many challenges in her life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Well, you can't survive like that.

The New York Times

When you have a bowling attack capable of relentless accuracy, landing the ball just short of a good length on off stump all day long, you simply cannot survive like that.

BBC

Society cannot survive like that".

The Guardian

"You can't have two billion people living with disease, poverty, war, conflict and terrorism and survive like that for very long," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

"There's a survivalist response which is 'I'm going to hide away all by myself'," says Ahmed. "You're probably not going to survive like that – you have to cooperate with other people.

The Guardian - Tech

You cannot survive like that for long.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

So we persisted and slowly the fear disappeared" (Female participant, Amuru) " we would work until our gloves were over, because of too many injuries and at times we would use kavera [polythene bags], because you cannot leave a person to die, so we used 'kavera ' " (Male participant, Pader) "We just continued surviving like that.

Health Policy and Planning

There are things he has learned the more contact he has survived, like that the best pictures are usually made in an ambush if you are walking near the front of the column, because when the shooting starts you can spin around and photograph the soldiers' faces as they look into the gunfire and scramble to fight.

The New York Times

Perhaps its place, the land on which a trail lives, is trying to survive, like us, and that it is reaching out to us for its survival, just as we need it to survive.

Huffington Post

These Wisconsin Republicans may never have survived ordeals like that.

The New Yorker

It was sometimes mortifying for people to get just two or three when some in the class got dozens when we very publicly distributed and counted them, but we were built stronger and tougher in the 60's and we all survived humiliation like that.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "survive like that" to vividly depict scenarios where individuals or entities are barely managing to continue functioning or existing under challenging conditions. For example, "I don't know how small businesses can "survive like that" with such high overhead costs."

Common error

Avoid using "survive like that" when the situation isn't truly about survival or bare minimum existence. Using it for minor inconveniences dilutes its impact. Use terms like "manage" or "handle" for less critical situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "survive like that" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner in which someone or something is surviving. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "survive like that" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express incredulity or concern about enduring difficult situations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is valid. While not exceedingly common, it finds application across news, scientific, and formal contexts. For alternatives, consider "endure in that manner" or "manage in that state". Avoid overusing it in trivial situations. The phrase effectively communicates the struggle inherent in maintaining existence under adverse circumstances, as demonstrated in the examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endure in that manner

Replaces "survive" with "endure" and "like" with "in", focusing on the act of bearing hardships.

get by in that fashion

Uses "get by" instead of "survive", implying a minimal level of sustenance or success.

manage in that state

Substitutes "survive" with "manage", suggesting coping with a situation, and replaces "like" with "in".

exist under those conditions

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal expression emphasizing the state of existence.

live through that situation

Focuses on living through a particular event or set of circumstances, rather than a general way of life.

cope in that way

Highlights the coping mechanisms employed to deal with difficulties.

eke out an existence like that

Implies a struggle for survival, barely managing to stay alive or functional.

scrape by like that

Suggests a precarious existence, relying on meager resources.

fend for oneself in that situation

Emphasizes self-reliance and independence in overcoming challenges.

make it through that ordeal

Focuses on successfully navigating a difficult and challenging experience.

FAQs

How can I use "survive like that" in a sentence?

The phrase "survive like that" is used to describe managing to live or exist under difficult circumstances. For example: "I don't know how she can "survive like that" on such a low income."

What can I say instead of "survive like that"?

You can use alternatives like "endure in that manner", "get by in that fashion", or "manage in that state" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "live like that" instead of "survive like that"?

While "live like that" is grammatically correct and can be used to describe a lifestyle, "survive like that" specifically emphasizes enduring difficult or challenging conditions. The two phrases aren't interchangeable.

What's the difference between "survive like that" and "just get by"?

"Just get by" implies a minimal level of sustenance or success, while "survive like that" emphasizes the difficulty and struggle involved in maintaining existence under adverse conditions. For instance, you might "just get by" if you're a student managing on a budget but you'd "survive like that" if you were facing extreme poverty.