tipping sideways

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'tipping sideways' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a metaphor to describe a situation where something is not going as expected, or is off balance, or is about to collapse due to lack of support. For example, "The company's finances were tipping sideways and there was nothing anyone could do to save it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I was tipping sideways, my right leg and just my shoe heel holding me up, but beginning to fall.

The New Yorker

The founding father was Nora's deceased husband, Philip, whose portrait has a nasty habit of continually tipping sideways in its hallowed place above the mantle in the Baldwin library (designed here by Jessica Parks).

The New York Times

Take the towel off your head and shake head (tipping sideways)to the side you want your hair to go on(for example, if you want a part on the right side of your head, tip-shake your head to the left).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Head tipped sideways, too lazy to take hands from pockets to summon him.

The New Yorker

The dog tipped sideways as he came close, rudderless with friendliness.

The New Yorker

A petrified tree stump, tipped sideways nearby in the sand, cast no shadow at 4 p.m.

The New York Times - Travel

The arresting footage shows people helping each other crawl out of carriages tipped sideways and assisting rescue teams on site.

Independent

"I'll wait," the woman said, and took a seat on the brick step, her skirts hiked, her bag on her lap, arms crossed over it, head tipped sideways.

The New Yorker

There was another woman, tipped sideways in her bed, thrashing, shouting for help, though what she wanted it was impossible to tell.

The Guardian

The journalist, Artyom Borovik, and the head of the oil-trading company Alliance Group, Ziya Bazhayev, had taken off for Kiev when the three-engine Yak-40 passenger jet apparently tipped sideways and slammed into the runway.

The New York Times

In sports, there are always unexplainable things — crazy bounces, boneheaded decisions, referees — and then there are things that make you stare at your television with your head tipped sideways, waiting for someone to tell you this is one of those "Saturday Night Live" spoofs and not something real, even though it's not Saturday night.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tipping sideways" to vividly describe a loss of balance or stability, whether literal or metaphorical. This phrase is particularly effective when emphasizing the unexpected or precarious nature of the movement.

Common error

While "tipping sideways" is acceptable in news and general writing, avoid it in highly formal or scientific contexts. Opt for more precise or technical terms like "lateral displacement" or "inclination" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tipping sideways" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often part of a continuous verb tense, describing an action of losing balance or inclining to one side. As Ludwig AI suggests, it depicts either literal movement or a metaphorical shift in stability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Wiki

33.33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tipping sideways" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a loss of balance or a lateral inclination. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and metaphorical potential. While not overly common, it finds its place primarily in news and general writing, conveying a sense of instability or gradual shift. When writing, consider the context and opt for more formal alternatives in scientific or highly professional settings. As demonstrated by the provided examples, it effectively captures the visual and emotional impact of something going awry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tilting laterally

Emphasizes the lateral direction of the tilt.

leaning to the side

Focuses on the act of inclining to one side.

slanting to the side

Highlights the angled position resulting from the tipping.

listing to starboard

Uses nautical terminology to indicate tilting to the right.

listing to port

Uses nautical terminology to indicate tilting to the left.

inclining laterally

Formal way of saying leaning to the side.

keeling over

Implies a more dramatic and potentially irreversible tipping motion.

lurching sideways

Suggests a sudden and uncontrolled sideways movement.

careening laterally

Implies a rapid and uncontrolled sideways motion, often with a loss of control.

becoming unbalanced

Focuses on the loss of equilibrium rather than the direction of movement.

FAQs

What does "tipping sideways" mean?

The phrase "tipping sideways" describes a situation where something is losing balance and inclining to one side, whether literally or figuratively. It implies a deviation from an upright or stable position.

How can I use "tipping sideways" in a sentence?

You might say, "The old tree was "leaning to the side", slowly "tipping sideways" due to the storm's force", or "The company's profits were "tipping sideways" due to poor management".

What are some alternatives to "tipping sideways"?

You can use alternatives like "tilting laterally", "leaning to the side", or "becoming unbalanced" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "tipped sideways" or "tipping sideways"?

Both "tipped sideways" and "tipping sideways" are grammatically correct, but they describe different aspects. "Tipped sideways" describes a completed action (past tense), while "tipping sideways" describes an ongoing action (present continuous tense).