PhrasesHub

From strength to strength

    Definitions

      • progress and success
        To describe someone or something that has continuously improved and achieved greater success over time

      • increasing strength
        To describe a person or organization that has become stronger and more capable through hard work and perseverance

    Examples of From strength to strength

    • The company's sales figures have been steadily increasing from strength to strength over the past year. This is a clear indication that the business is growing and becoming more and more successful.

      The phrase "from strength to strength" is used to describe a situation where something is improving and becoming increasingly strong or successful. In this example, it is being used to explain how the company's sales have been consistently increasing, which is a positive sign for the future of the business. Another example could be:

    • The athlete's performance in the competition was truly impressive, and she seemed to be getting stronger and stronger with each event.

      Here, "from strength to strength" is being used to describe the athlete's improvement during the competition. It suggests that the athlete was becoming increasingly powerful and confident as the events progressed, which helped her to achieve excellent results. A third example might be:

    • The director's latest film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and it seems that his career is going from strength to strength.

      This example demonstrates the use of "from strength to strength" to describe a person's professional success. In this case, the director's success with his latest film has led to further positive reviews and increased demand for his work, which is helping him to build a strong and successful career.

    • The company's sales have been increasing "from strength to strength" over the past year.

      This idiom refers to the idea that the company's success has been building upon itself, with each successive achievement or stage being stronger than the last. In other words, the company's performance has been progressively better and more successful with each passing period.

    • After winning the silver medal in her first Olympics, the athlete trained harder than ever before and went on to win the gold medal "from strength to strength" in the following games.

      This usage of "from strength to strength" signifies that the athlete's performance continued to improve and grow stronger, building upon her previous successes at the Olympics.

    • As the CEO addressed the shareholders, he spoke of the company's future with confidence, assuring them that the business would continue to "grow from strength to strength" in the coming years.

      This idiomatic expression denotes the idea that the company's growth and prosperity will continue to escalate, with each successive development or phase being more successful and prosperous than the last.

    • Following a highly successful product launch, the company's marketing team made strategic decisions "from strength to strength," cultivating the product's popularity and subsequently introducing a superior product that surpassed the success of the initial launch.

      This usage of "from strength to strength" portrays that the company's marketing team built upon the success of the previous product launch, refining strategies and making informed decisions that built upon and surpassed the initial product's success, ultimately resulting in the introduction of a more successful product.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "from strength to strength" is used to describe a continuous upward trajectory of progress and success. It can refer to both personal growth and development as well as the success of an organization or group.

    When used to describe a person, it highlights their determination and resilience in overcoming challenges and continuously improving themselves. This can be seen in phrases such as "She has gone from strength to strength in her career, earning several promotions along the way." In this context, the idiom emphasizes the individual's hard work and dedication in achieving their goals.

    When used to describe an organization or group, it emphasizes their ability to adapt and grow stronger over time. For example, "The company has gone from strength to strength, expanding into new markets and increasing their profits year after year." This usage highlights the organization's successful strategies and resilience in the face of challenges.

    Origin of "From strength to strength"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Bible, specifically in the Book of Psalms. In Psalm 84:7, it is written "They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion." This phrase was later adopted in English literature, with its first recorded use in 1596 by Edmund Spenser in his poem "The Faerie Queene."

    Over time, the idiom evolved to its current meaning of continuous progress and success. It is now commonly used in modern English to describe individual or organizational growth and achievement. Its biblical origin adds a sense of strength and resilience to the phrase, emphasizing the idea of overcoming challenges and persevering towards success.