they made it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they made it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has successfully achieved a goal or reached a destination. Example: "After months of hard work and dedication, they made it to the finals of the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Remember how THEY made it great.

WikiHow

They made it psychological.

The New Yorker

But they made it.

The New York Times - Science

They made it up".

The New Yorker

They made it through.

The New Yorker

They made it home.

The New York Times

They made it worse.

The New Yorker

(They made it).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Would they make it?

The New York Times

They make it exciting.

The New Yorker

"Can they make it?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they made it" when you want to express that a group successfully completed a task, arrived at a destination, or overcame a challenge. Make sure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "they made it" if the subject pronoun "they" is ambiguous. Ensure the reader knows exactly who "they" refers to in the context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they made it" functions as a declarative statement expressing successful completion or achievement. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage. The examples provided illustrate its ability to communicate success after effort, e.g., "But they made it."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they made it" is a common and generally correct way to express that a group of people successfully achieved something, arrived somewhere, or overcame a challenge. Ludwig AI affirms its validity. Analysis of its usage reveals its prevalence in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business contexts, with a more neutral to informal register. Related phrases include "they succeeded" and "they accomplished it". When using this phrase, ensure that the pronoun "they" has a clear referent to avoid ambiguity. Overall, "they made it" is a versatile and effective phrase for conveying successful outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they succeeded

Replaces "made it" with a more direct verb indicating success.

they were successful

Uses an adjective to describe their state of achieving something.

they achieved their goal

Specifies that a goal was reached, implying successful effort.

they accomplished it

Uses a different verb to convey the completion of a task or objective.

they pulled it off

An idiomatic expression suggesting a difficult feat was achieved.

they managed to do it

Emphasizes the effort and ability to overcome challenges.

they got there

Focuses on reaching a destination or achieving a specific state.

they triumphed

Suggests a victory or a great success after a struggle.

they prevailed

Implies overcoming adversity to achieve success.

they were victorious

Highlights the win after contest or challenges faced.

FAQs

How can I use "they made it" in a sentence?

Use "they made it" to indicate that a group has successfully achieved a goal, arrived at a destination, or overcome a challenge. For example, "Despite the difficulties, they made it to the top of the mountain."

What can I say instead of "they made it"?

You can use alternatives like "they succeeded", "they achieved their goal", or "they accomplished it" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they did it" instead of "they made it"?

Yes, "they did it" is a simpler and often interchangeable alternative to "they made it", especially in informal contexts. However, "they made it" can sometimes imply more about overcoming obstacles or achieving a specific destination.

What's the difference between "they made it" and "they are making it"?

"They made it" indicates a completed action—they have already succeeded. "They are making it" suggests an ongoing process—they are currently in the process of succeeding or achieving something.