Cool MateMake it to the big time vs Thrive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Make it to the big time
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Thrive
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: Thrive
| Make it to the big time | Thrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt tə ðə bɪg taɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/θraɪv/","/θraɪvz/","/θraɪvd/","/ˈθraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/θraɪv/","/θraɪvz/","/θraɪvd/","/ˈθraɪvɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To become very successful, especially in a career. | To grow strong and be successful. |
| Example | After years of hard work, she finally made it to the big time. | New businesses thrive in this area. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | make it to the top, make it in the industry, make it big, make it happen, make it count | positively, still, seem to, continue to, fail to, on, failure to thrive |
| Antonyms | - | fail, decline, wither |
| 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. | Confusing with 'survive' - thrive means to do well, while survive means to just get by., Using it in a negative sentence - thrive is generally positive, so it's rare to say 'does not thrive.', Confusing the prepositions - remember to use 'on', 'in', or 'through' correctly. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations or media to talk about achieving significant success, typically in entertainment or sports. Not suitable for formal contexts. | This word is suitable in both casual and professional contexts. Use it to describe personal growth or the success of businesses and plants. Avoid using it in overly negative contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Make it to the big time vs Thrive
What's the difference between Make it to the big time and Thrive?
Make it to the big time: To become very successful, especially in a career. Thrive: To grow strong and be successful.
Which is more formal: Make it to the big time and Thrive?
Thrive is the most formal of these.
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. Thrive: New businesses thrive in this area.
Can I use Make it to the big time and Thrive interchangeably?
Not always. Make it to the big time and Thrive 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.