vanish without trace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vanish without trace" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing something or someone disappearing completely, leaving no evidence behind. Example: "The magician made the rabbit vanish without trace." Alternative expressions include "disappear without a trace" and "vanish without a sign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Instead, Dereth will simply vanish without trace.

The Economist

Hey ho, some events vanish without trace".

The Guardian - Books

Anyway, don't bother worrying about her - she'll probably vanish without trace in a minute.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It is a feeling that could soon vanish without trace if the country enters an era of more or less permanent austerity – a realistic scenario that Miliband and his advisers show no sign of having confronted.

The Guardian - Books

The drums crack and thunder, the guitars sting and crunch and the synthesiser on One By One bubbles appealingly, but the songs vanish without trace almost as soon as they leave the speakers.

The Guardian - Music

In so doing, Kadima seems to have managed to escape the fate of many previous Israeli "centrist" parties – to shine brightly during a single election, then vanish without trace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But the manuscript was no more, having vanished without trace.

Independent

Naza's husband and brothers vanished without trace.

Independent

He wrought no damage - he just studied confidential information, then vanished without trace.

The Guardian - Tech

In the early hours of 3 May 2007, she vanished without trace from her parents' holiday apartment.

The Guardian

When they returned to complete the job in early summer the devices, and their plutonium payload, had vanished without trace.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "vanish without trace", ensure the context clearly indicates a complete and unexplained disappearance, leaving no evidence or clues behind.

Common error

Avoid using "vanish without trace" in situations that are only mildly mysterious or where a simple explanation is plausible. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly dramatic or contrived.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vanish without trace" functions as a verb phrase that typically modifies a noun, describing the manner in which something or someone disappears. It signifies a complete absence of evidence following the disappearance. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vanish without trace" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe a complete and mysterious disappearance. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it signifies the lack of any remaining evidence. Ludwig AI highlights the phrase's appropriateness across various contexts, emphasizing its role in conveying unexplained disappearances. Alternatives such as "disappear completely" or "go missing without a clue" offer similar meanings, though may alter the specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be totally untraceable

This alternative highlights the inability to find any evidence or follow any leads.

disappear completely

This alternative focuses on the completeness of the disappearance, omitting the 'trace' aspect.

evaporate into thin air

This alternative uses a common idiom emphasizing the suddenness and lack of substance in the disappearance.

go missing without a clue

This alternative uses the idiom 'without a clue' to emphasize the lack of evidence.

leave no sign

This alternative focuses solely on the lack of any remaining evidence.

fade into oblivion

This alternative suggests a gradual disappearance into obscurity.

dematerialize entirely

This alternative uses a more technical term, 'dematerialize', suggesting a scientific or fantastical disappearance.

be swallowed up by the earth

This alternative suggests a more dramatic and forceful disappearance.

cease to exist

This alternative focuses on the termination of existence, rather than the act of disappearing.

become irretrievable

This alternative implies something is lost and cannot be recovered.

FAQs

How can I use "vanish without trace" in a sentence?

You can use "vanish without trace" to describe something or someone disappearing completely, leaving no evidence. For example, "The treasure was rumored to "vanish without trace" after the ship sank."

What is a synonym for "vanish without trace"?

A synonym for "vanish without trace" is "disappear without a trace". Both phrases mean to disappear completely, leaving no sign.

Is it more appropriate to say "disappear without a trace" or "vanish without trace"?

Both "disappear without a trace" and ""vanish without trace"" are acceptable and nearly interchangeable. "Vanish" might suggest a slightly more sudden or mysterious disappearance.

What does it mean when something "vanishes without trace"?

When something "vanishes without trace", it means it disappears completely and inexplicably, leaving no clues or evidence as to what happened to it.