Cool MateMake it to the big time vs Succeed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Make it to the big time
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Succeed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: SucceedMost common: Succeed
| Make it to the big time | Succeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To become very successful, especially in a career. | to do well or to reach a goal |
| Example | After years of hard work, she finally made it to the big time. | If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | make it to the top, make it in the industry, make it big, make it happen, make it count | admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to |
| Antonyms | - | fail, stop, flop |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Confused with 'succeed in' vs 'succeed at', Using 'succeed' without an object or context, Incorrectly conjugating with 'succeeded' in future tense |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations or media to talk about achieving significant success, typically in entertainment or sports. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Use 'succeed' in general situations where someone achieves their aims. More common in neutral contexts than in formal discussions. Avoid using in overly casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Make it to the big time vs Succeed
What's the difference between Make it to the big time and Succeed?
Make it to the big time: To become very successful, especially in a career. Succeed: to do well or to reach a goal
Which is more formal: Make it to the big time and Succeed?
Succeed is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Make it to the big time and Succeed?
Succeed is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Make it to the big time: After years of hard work, she finally made it to the big time. Succeed: If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals.
Can I use Make it to the big time and Succeed interchangeably?
Not always. Make it to the big time and Succeed 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.