threshold of collapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "threshold of collapse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a critical point or limit beyond which a system, structure, or situation may fail or break down. Example: "The engineers warned that the bridge was nearing the threshold of collapse due to years of neglect."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Through the stages of consideration, the ODBS braced RC frame is experienced various behaviours as elastic, elastic plastic, secondary elastic, secondary elastic plastic and plastic, then it was in threshold of collapse and also bracing members are formed parallel to each other and they were on diagonal axis.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even if there are no thresholds of collapse, he wrote in BioScience, destruction of the natural world and loss of biodiversity still matter: "Rather, in calling for a stop to the destruction, it is the losses themselves that count, not a putative cliff that humans will fall off of somewhere down the road" (yet another ecological metaphor).

The New York Times - Science

However, recent studies conducted in healthy volunteers with normal pulmonary function have reported mean levels of expiratory collapse >50%, which would indicate the need to establish new thresholds of collapse for the diagnosis of the disease [72].

Insights into Imaging

Machine learning algorithms are used to map response and damage patterns to the structural safety state (safe or unsafe to occupy) of the building based on an acceptable threshold of residual collapse capacity.

Structural Safety

A lower bound for the incremental collapse threshold of the pushout resistance of 70% of the static collapse load was empirically derived.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

For evolutionary analysis of the targets of Hfq-associated core sRNAs, each of the corresponding Bayesian nucleotide trees was compared to the E. coli– Shigella reference topology using the EEEP program (Beiko and Hamilton 2006) with a bootstrap collapse threshold of 95% and strict reference tree ratchet (-rR).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Tree views were produced using Interactive Tree Of Life [ 49] To compare each of the 5282 protein trees with the reference topology we used the EEEP program [ 6, 34] with a bootstrap collapse threshold of 95% (i.e. considering only nodes with PP ≥ 95%) and a strict reference tree ratchet (-rR).

BMC Genomics

EEEP was run using a reference tree, a test tree and a support threshold of 0, which will not collapse any nodes into polytomies.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fixed and flexible threshold approaches collapse the rare variant information of a genomic region into a test statistic with reduced dimensionality.

Bioinformatics

Xian's wife was just ahead of him, crossing the threshold of their house when the frame collapsed.

The New York Times

As we did not measure coronary blood flow in our population, no association between the arterial blood pressure at terminal cardiovascular collapse and the lower threshold of coronary autoregulation can be made.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems or abstract concepts, using "threshold of collapse" can effectively convey the precariousness of a situation and the imminence of failure if certain limits are exceeded.

Common error

Avoid using "threshold of collapse" in everyday situations where a simpler phrase like "breaking point" or "limit" would suffice. This phrase is most effective when describing complex systems or situations with significant consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "threshold of collapse" functions as a noun phrase, often used as an object of a preposition (e.g., "nearing the threshold of collapse"). It signifies the boundary beyond which a system or structure is likely to fail. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "threshold of collapse" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote the critical juncture at which a system or structure is on the verge of failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable, though its frequency is relatively rare. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, indicating a degree of formality. When using this phrase, consider its connotations of urgency and potential danger, and ensure it's appropriate for the complexity of the situation you're describing. Simpler alternatives may suffice in less critical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

point of failure

Focuses on the specific moment when something stops functioning or breaks down.

brink of failure

Emphasizes the imminence of failure, suggesting it's very close to happening.

edge of destruction

Highlights the potential for complete annihilation or ruin.

point of no return

Suggests that after this point, it's impossible to revert to a previous state or condition.

precipice of collapse

Uses 'precipice' to illustrate a dangerous and unstable situation just before collapse.

verge of disintegration

Focuses on the process of breaking apart or falling into pieces.

limit of stability

Highlights the boundary beyond which something becomes unstable.

breaking point

Emphasizes the level of stress or strain that leads to failure.

critical failure point

Adds emphasis by indicating that failure leads to critical consequences

point of irreversible damage

Stresses the permanent and unrepairable nature of the damage.

FAQs

How can I use "threshold of collapse" in a sentence?

You can use "threshold of collapse" to describe the point at which a system, structure, or situation is about to fail. For example, "The bridge was nearing the "threshold of collapse" due to years of neglect."

What's a good alternative to "threshold of collapse"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "point of failure", "brink of failure", or "edge of destruction".

Is "threshold of collapse" formal or informal?

"Threshold of collapse" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for academic, scientific, or news contexts. Simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for informal settings.

What does "threshold of collapse" imply?

"Threshold of collapse" implies a critical point where a system is so stressed or damaged that it is on the verge of failing completely. It suggests a situation of high risk and potential for significant negative consequences.