take a dive

USAGE SUMMARY

'take a dive' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It most commonly means to take a steep or sudden decrease in performance, score, or value. For example, "The sports team had been doing well, but in the game yesterday they decided to take a dive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prices take a dive, too.

The New York Times

Public opinion will surely take a dive.

The Economist

Alves decided to take a dive anyway.

The Guardian - Sport

Stocks take a dive around the world.

The New Yorker

Jennifer Rubin: Trump's poll numbers take a dive.

The Washington Post

Did I miss anything?" "Let me take a dive into this.

Independent

Did Canterbury's Michael Ennis take a dive on Friday night as suggested by the Roosters?

The Guardian - Sport

But first of course Jake must, in the time-honoured fashion, take a dive.

The Guardian - Film

"You mean I take a dive in the second?" Robinson fired back with disgust.

The Guardian - Sport

"People don't take a dive anymore -- the business is much too sophisticated for that".

The New York Times - Sports

By Avi Zenilman February 20 , 2009Stocks take a dive around the world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take a dive" when you want to describe a rapid and significant decrease, particularly in contexts like stocks, prices, or performance. For example, "After the announcement, the company's stock price took a dive."

Common error

Avoid using "take a dive" in formal academic writing where a more neutral term like "decrease" or "decline" would be more appropriate. "Take a dive" often carries a negative or informal connotation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a dive" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used idiomatically to describe a sudden and significant decrease or decline. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage, showcasing its versatility across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

13%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a dive" is a common and versatile idiom used to describe a sudden and significant decrease or decline. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral to informal, it's advisable to use more formal language in academic or scientific writing. When aiming for clarity and impact, "take a dive" effectively conveys a sense of unexpected or dramatic reduction. Remember that in some contexts, it may also mean to intentionally lose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a nosedive

Synonymous, offers a slightly more vivid image.

nosedive

Emphasizes a steep and rapid fall, similar to an aircraft.

drop significantly

Simple substitution with single-word alternatives.

decline sharply

More formal way to describe a significant decrease.

fall drastically

Highlights the severity of the drop.

plummet

Single word alternative focusing on a rapid decrease.

slump

A less formal term for a sudden decline, often in economic contexts.

decrease suddenly

Focuses on the suddenness of the reduction.

intentionally fail

More formal and direct way of expressing intentional failure.

deliberately lose

Focuses on the intention behind the failure.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "takes a dive"?

It means that something experiences a sudden and significant decrease, often unexpectedly. This could apply to stock prices, poll numbers, or even someone's performance.

What can I say instead of "take a dive"?

You can use alternatives like "plummet", "decrease sharply", or "decline significantly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "take a dive" in a formal setting?

While grammatically correct, "take a dive" is generally considered informal. In formal settings, it's better to use more neutral terms like "decrease", "decline", or "drop".

How do I use "take a dive" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a sudden drop in a measurable quantity, like "The company's profits took a dive after the scandal" or to suggest intentionally losing, such as "The boxer was accused of taking a dive".