to drop by the wayside

Examples

• All

• And that is exactly what the PG&E lawyers want—they keep making their fees, dragging out the case, waiting for people to drop by the wayside.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Many students tend to drop by the wayside when they struggle with a difficult subject.

• ... I'm not going to let those who've been hurt drop by the wayside.

  Blog text (34)

• He dropped by the wayside, and soft snowflakes fell on his face.

  Fiction book (1993)

• One of every three people had dropped by the wayside, and those who survived were so low-spirited that they prayed for death.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Larry: We also visit campaign headquarters to get material and get a sampling of each of the candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire before they drop by the wayside.

  Blog text (31)

• She watched her teammates drop by the wayside as challenges grew tougher during the competition.

Synonyms

G

to give up

vsto drop by the wayside

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

is similar but stresses quitting because of difficulty or defeat

Q

to quit

vsto drop by the wayside

653 1.5

To stop trying when something is too hard

focuses more on stopping participation after struggle rather than general surrender

D

to drop out

vsto drop by the wayside

214 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

is similar but includes stopping progress in many situations, not only programs

C

to call it quits

vsto drop by the wayside

• Informal

34 3.9

To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough

implies stopping because of difficulty or failure rather than completion feeling

T

to throw in

vsto drop by the wayside

• Informal

29 4.9

Stop trying because you cannot win

is broader, covering leaving progress or participation beyond contests

T

to throw in the towel

vsto drop by the wayside

• Informal

27 4.8

To stop trying because you know you cannot succeed

covers stopping participation due to difficulty but not only admitted defeat moments

F

to fall by the wayside

vsto drop by the wayside

• Informal

11 6.5

Stop taking part or trying because of problems

stops for reasons of difficulty or defeat rather than just neglect

H

to hit a dead end

vsto drop by the wayside

8 4.6

Reach a point where you cannot continue

describes stopping participation due to difficulty or defeat rather than just being stuck

G

to go by the wayside

vsto drop by the wayside

• Informal

5 6.9

To stop being used or followed

means stopping participation or progress because of difficulty or giving up

C

to chuck up the sponge

vsto drop by the wayside

• UK

9.9

To stop trying because it seems pointless

covers stopping participation from difficulty even when not clearly futile

Antonyms

S

to succeed

846 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

P

to persist

62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

P

to persevere

22 5.1

Keep trying to do something even when it is hard

How Persistent

to persevere

22 5.1

to keep going

357 1.6

to struggle

851 2.8

to drop by the wayside

• Informal

1 7.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology