What Does โVie with sthโ Mean?
โVie with sthโ means to compete or struggle against something or someone to achieve or win something.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โvie with sthโ is commonly used to describe a situation where someone or something competes strongly against another person or thing. Understanding the Vie with sth meaning helps you express competition in various contexts, such as sports, business, or everyday life. This phrase highlights rivalry and the effort to surpass or match others. It is useful in both formal and informal English and can make your language more precise when talking about contests or challenges.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Vie with something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To compete or struggle against
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โVie with sthโ is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means the object always comes after the entire phrase. You cannot separate โvieโ and โwith.โ
Pattern: Subject + vie + with + object
Example: They vie with their rivals for the contract.
How to Use Vie with sth?
Use โvie with sthโ when you want to describe a competition or struggle between people, groups, or things. It is often followed by the word โwithโ and the object you are competing against. This phrasal verb fits well in formal writing but can also be used in everyday conversations about rivalry or contests.
Examples
Many companies vie with each other to create the best product.
- The two teams vie with each other to win the championship every year.
- Local artists vie with international stars for recognition.
- Small businesses often vie with large corporations for customers.
- Students vie with their classmates to get top grades.
- Brands vie with their competitors to offer better prices.
Here is Vie with sth in a sentence: โThe startups vie with established companies to attract investors.โ
Common Mistakes
It is common to confuse the structure or misuse the preposition after โvie.โ
- Incorrect: They vie the prize.
- Correct: They vie for the prize.
- Incorrect: She vies at her colleagues.
- Correct: She vies with her colleagues.
Remember, โvieโ is always followed by โwithโ when referring to the competitor and โforโ when referring to what is being competed for.
Differences / Synonyms
โVie with sthโ means to compete against someone or something. Similar phrases include โcompete with,โ โcontend with,โ and โstruggle against.โ
- Compete with: More general and often interchangeable with โvie with.โ
- Contend with: Often implies dealing with difficulties as well as competition.
- Struggle against: Focuses on effort and difficulty rather than just competition.
Unlike โcompete,โ โvieโ usually stresses a strong rivalry or effort to surpass the other.
Common Collocations
When using โvie with,โ certain objects or phrases often appear together to show what or who is being competed against.
- Vie with rivals: Compete against competitors.
- Vie with competitors: Compete with others in the same field.
- Vie with others: Compete with other people or groups.
- Vie with challenges: Struggle or compete against difficulties.
- Vie with companies: Compete against other businesses.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of vie with sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation showing how to use โvie with sthโ naturally.
Anna: Our team is really trying hard this season.
Ben: Yes, they vie with the top teams every match.
Anna: Itโs exciting to watch such tough competition.
Practice
Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of โvie withโ:
- Small shops often ________ large supermarkets to attract customers.
- Several candidates ________ each other for the job position.
- The two companies ________ to offer the best prices.
Answers: vie with
FAQ
- Q: Is โvie withโ formal or informal?
A: It is mostly formal but can be used in everyday speech. - Q: Can you say โvie forโ instead of โvie withโ?
A: Yes, use โvie forโ when referring to what is being competed for. - Q: Is โvie withโ separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; the object follows the whole phrase. - Q: What is a synonym for โvie withโ?
A: โCompete withโ is a common synonym. - Q: Can โvie withโ be used for non-human competition?
A: Yes, it can be used for companies, teams, or even ideas.
