things spiral out of control

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'things spiral out of control' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase often used to describe a situation in which a problem is getting worse quickly, often in an uncontrollable way. For example, "As the complexity of the project grew, things started to spiral out of control."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

On holiday, things spiral out of control.

The Guardian - Tech

"Then things spiral out of control," Mr. Huck added, "and it ends up in these real unfortunate situations".

The New York Times

Maybe it causes more damage, and then Assad might feel compelled to respond, perhaps by striking Israel, and that's how things spiral out of control.

The Washington Post

That, he explained, "is what happens when an output is fed back into the input, making things spiral out of control - for example, bringing a microphone close to a loudspeaker - a small sound picked up by the mic gets amplified, output by the speaker, picked up by the mic - pretty soon your ears are hurting". Thank you all.

BBC

If your variable rate starts to take off sharply in future years, this will be a way to lock in your rate before things spiral out of control.

Los Angeles Times

Carol Bundy said she blames, in part, the governor of Nevada and the county sheriff for letting things spiral out of control.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"That's when things spiralled out of control".

The New Yorker

Things spiraled out of control for the Aztecs after that.

The New York Times

Click says things spiraled out of control somehow.

The Washington Post

Jonathan L. Shill, testified that things spiraled out of control so quickly that he did not have time to save the aircraft.

The Washington Post

From there, things spiraled out of control, and the program looks at the decision makers as they struggled to keep pace with the evolving catastrophe.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "things spiral out of control" to describe situations where initial small problems quickly amplify into larger, unmanageable issues. This phrase is effective in conveying a sense of urgency and loss of control.

Common error

While "things spiral out of control" is widely understood, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced language to maintain a professional tone. For example, use "the situation deteriorated rapidly" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things spiral out of control" functions as a descriptive idiom. It illustrates a situation rapidly worsening, suggesting a loss of control and an increasing sense of chaos. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "things spiral out of control" is a phrase used to describe a situation that rapidly deteriorates, becoming unmanageable. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While commonly found in news and media contexts, it's less frequent in formal academic settings. When writing, consider the context and choose more precise language for formal settings to maintain a professional tone. Alternatives include "situations escalate rapidly" or "events spin out of control". Remember to use this phrase to convey a sense of urgency and a loss of control.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

events spin out of control

Similar to the original phrase but emphasizes the chaotic nature of the situation.

situations escalate rapidly

Focuses on the speed of the situation's worsening.

circumstances get out of hand

Emphasizes a loss of control over the situation.

the situation becomes unmanageable

Emphasizes the inability to control or resolve the issues.

events take a turn for the worse

Highlights the negative change in the situation.

problems snowball

Illustrates how small issues accumulate into a larger crisis.

the situation deteriorates quickly

Focuses on the declining quality of the situation.

difficulties compound rapidly

Illustrates the increasing complexity and severity of problems.

matters worsen exponentially

Highlights the rapid and accelerating decline.

a crisis unfolds

Suggests a gradual and inevitable descent into chaos.

FAQs

How can I use "things spiral out of control" in a sentence?

You can use "things spiral out of control" to describe a situation where events quickly worsen and become unmanageable. For example, "Due to poor communication, "things spiral out of control" during the project.".

What's a more formal alternative to "things spiral out of control"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "the situation deteriorated rapidly", "events escalated quickly", or "circumstances became unmanageable" instead of "things spiral out of control".

Is it grammatically correct to say "things spiraled out of control"?

Yes, "things spiraled out of control" is grammatically correct. It is the past tense form of the phrase and is used to describe a situation that has already worsened uncontrollably.

What causes "things" to "spiral out of control"?

Various factors can cause "things spiral out of control", including poor communication, lack of planning, unexpected events, or a combination of these. The phrase itself doesn't specify the cause, but rather describes the resulting state of affairs.