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Meaning & use

going strong

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌɡəʊɪŋ ˈstrɒŋ/
US/ˌɡoʊɪŋ ˈstrɔːŋ/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    Still healthy, active, or working well after a long time.

    Grammar: Comes after be, keep, or still be, and describes a person, group, or thing that has lasted a long time.

    Patterns

    • be going strong
    • still be going strong
    • keep going strong

    My grandfather is ninety-two and still going strong.

    The little bakery on the corner has been going strong for forty years.

    After three hours of dancing, the band was still going strong.

  2. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    Continuing with plenty of energy or success, especially longer than expected.

    Grammar: Often used about events, campaigns, or businesses that show no sign of slowing down.

    Patterns

    • be going strong
    • keep going strong

    The festival is going strong into its second week.

    Their online campaign kept going strong even after the first goal.

Common combinations

still going strong
She is eighty and still going strong.
be going strong
The team has been going strong all season.
keep going strong
They kept going strong through the whole night.
going strong after (a period of time)
The shop is going strong after fifty years.
business is going strong
Business is going strong this summer.

Synonyms and how they differ

thriving
Thriving suggests growing and doing well, often about a business or plant, while going strong stresses energy and lasting power.
in good shape
In good shape means healthy or in good condition, but it does not carry the idea of continuing over a long time.
alive and well
Alive and well is similar but often used humorously about things people thought had disappeared.

Opposites

fadingflaggingstruggling

Word family

go verb
To move or continue; the base verb in this phrase.
strong adjective
Having power, health, or force.
strongly adverb
In a powerful or firm way.

Commonly confused: going strong or going on? going strong or strong going?

going strong vs going on

Going on means happening or continuing, as in 'What's going on?' It does not mean healthy or successful.

going strong vs strong going

This is not a normal English phrase; the fixed order is going strong.

Practice

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