winning them over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "winning them over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of persuading or gaining the support of others, often in a social or professional context. Example: "The candidate focused on winning them over with her compelling vision for the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet winning them over doesn't just mean nailing the big ticket issues.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hillary Clinton needs millennials, and her best hope at winning them over might be the septuagenarian they tried to elect.

The Guardian

Winning them over would put Sprint significantly closer to the roughly 75 percent of the vote it will need to buy control of the company.

The New York Times

The unruly French do not make the task easy, but winning them over is a question of political leadership the courage to level with voters and tell them why things need to change.The parallel with Britain is plainly inexact.

The Economist

Mr Gore's best chance of winning them over is bribery; Mr Bush's to hammer away at the question of values.The biggest group of swing voters is also the most obvious: Self-Confessed Independents.

The Economist

Q. Do you need to approach communication differently? A. In the U.S., it's more about "rah rah" — rallying the team — while in Asia it's more about winning them over, making sure they believe in your strategy.

The New York Times

According to Barbarani, who is now 76, Kozak's main role was befriending senior figures in the Pinochet regime and winning them over in order to secure the release of detainees.

The Guardian

Her attempts at winning them over had failed, and Ms. Pelosi, the first woman speaker and an ardent defender of abortion rights, had no choice but to do the unthinkable.

The New York Times - Health

Winning them over could take decades.

Forbes

Winning them over was really incremental.

Forbes

The United States needs "thousands" of Pashto speakers to have any chance of success in winning them over, said Mason, recalling that 5,000 U.S. officials had learned Vietnamese by the end of the Vietnam War.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "winning them over", ensure the context clearly indicates who 'them' refers to, avoiding ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "winning them over" in contexts where manipulation or dishonesty is implied; instead, opt for phrases like "gaining their trust" or "building rapport" to maintain ethical clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "winning them over" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It often serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the act of persuading or gaining favor. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically sound and versatile in usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

11%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "winning them over" is a versatile and grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of persuading or gaining the support of others. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is very common, appearing frequently in news and media, formal business settings, and even in wiki contexts. While it is generally neutral, writers should be mindful of the nuances and avoid using it in contexts implying manipulation. Alternatives include "gaining their support", "persuading them", and "convincing them", each offering slight differences in meaning. By understanding its function, purpose, and typical usage, writers can effectively employ "winning them over" to convey their intended message with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gaining their support

Focuses on obtaining endorsement or backing.

persuading them

Emphasizes the act of convincing someone.

convincing them

Similar to persuading but often implies overcoming doubt.

influencing them

Highlights the effect on their decisions or opinions.

capturing their hearts

Suggests appealing to emotions and affection.

bringing them around

Implies changing someone's opinion to align with one's own.

gaining their allegiance

Focuses on securing loyalty and commitment.

drawing them in

Emphasizes attraction and engagement.

converting them

Suggests a complete change in belief or opinion.

seducing them

Implies using charm or allure to gain favor.

FAQs

How can I use "winning them over" in a sentence?

You can use "winning them over" to describe the act of gaining someone's support or approval, such as, "The politician focused on winning them over with promises of economic reform."

What are some alternatives to "winning them over"?

You can use alternatives like "gaining their support", "persuading them", or "convincing them" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "winning them over" formal or informal?

"Winning them over" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "gaining their allegiance" may be preferred in highly formal settings.

What does it mean to focus on "winning them over"?

Focusing on "winning them over" means directing your efforts towards gaining the support, approval, or agreement of a particular group or individuals, often by appealing to their interests or values.