Meaning & use
from strength to strength
Last updated
UK/frəm ˌstreŋθ tə ˈstreŋθ/
US/frəm ˌstreŋθ tə ˈstreŋθ/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Becoming more and more successful or strong over time.
Grammar: Used after verbs like go or grow, and often with the pattern 'go from strength to strength'.
Patterns
- go from strength to strength
- grow from strength to strength
The small bakery has gone from strength to strength since it opened last year.
After she changed jobs, her career went from strength to strength.
The team has moved from strength to strength this season.
Common combinations
- go from strength to strength
- The business went from strength to strength after the new manager arrived.
- grow from strength to strength
- Their friendship grew from strength to strength over the years.
- continue from strength to strength
- The charity continues from strength to strength thanks to public support.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flourish
- This verb means to grow well or be successful, but it does not necessarily suggest steady improvement over time like the fixed phrase does.
- thrive
- This verb focuses on being healthy or successful, often in a particular situation, while the phrase emphasizes a continuous upward path.
Opposites
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using the phrase.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'from strength to strength'. The other options change the preposition or the word order, which breaks the idiom.
Make it your own
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