Cool MateFlourish vs Make it to the big time
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Flourish
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Make it to the big time
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Flourish
| Flourish | Make it to the big time | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈflʌrɪʃ/","/ˈflʌrɪʃɪz/","/ˈflʌrɪʃt/","/ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈflɜːrɪʃ/","/ˈflɜːrɪʃɪz/","/ˈflɜːrɪʃt/","/ˈflɜːrɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm// |
| Meaning | To grow or develop in a healthy way. | To become very successful, especially in a career. |
| Example | The artist continued to flourish despite the challenging market conditions. | After years of hard work, she finally made it to the big time. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | flourish in the garden, flourish in life, flourish under pressure, flourish at work, flourish financially | make it to the top, make it in the industry, make it big, make it happen, make it count |
| Antonyms | wither, decline, fail | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'flourish' as a noun and a verb., Using 'flourish' in past tense without 'ed' as in 'flourished' incorrectly., Mixing up 'flourish' with similar-sounding words like 'flour' or 'flower'. | Confusing with 'make it big' which has a similar but slightly different meaning., Using it in overly formal writing or presentations., Incorrectly using past tense, it should generally be in present or future. |
| Usage notes | Use 'flourish' when talking about personal growth, businesses, or plants. Avoid in very formal writing unless discussing economics or psychology. | Used in casual conversations or media to talk about achieving significant success, typically in entertainment or sports. Not suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Flourish vs Make it to the big time
What's the difference between Flourish and Make it to the big time?
Flourish: To grow or develop in a healthy way. Make it to the big time: To become very successful, especially in a career.
Which is more formal: Flourish and Make it to the big time?
Flourish is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Flourish: The artist continued to flourish despite the challenging market conditions. Make it to the big time: After years of hard work, she finally made it to the big time.
Can I use Flourish and Make it to the big time interchangeably?
Not always. Flourish and Make it to the big time are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.