“It stands or falls with” - for native English speakers.
In Danish we have the expression “it stands and falls with” which means “it depends entirely on”(=it hinges on).
I have found examples of “it stands or falls” in English when I google it, but I’m not sure how common it is and also not sure which preposition to use - “by”, “on” or “with” - that might depend on the context of course.
Have you encountered it used?
Do you find the following sentences natural?:
1. The survival of the government stands or falls with tonight's vote.
2. The survival of the government stands or falls on tonight's vote.
3. The survival of the government stands or falls by tonight's vote.

Thanks for your help!

Question

“It stands or falls with” - for native English speakers.
In Danish we have the expression “it stands and falls with” which means “it depends entirely on”(=it hinges on).
I have found examples of “it stands or falls” in English when I google it, but I’m not sure how common it is and also not sure which preposition to use - “by”, “on” or “with” - that might depend on the context of course.
Have you encountered it used?
Do you find the following sentences natural?:
1. The survival of the government stands or falls with tonight's vote.
2. The survival of the government stands or falls on tonight's vote.
3. The survival of the government stands or falls by tonight's vote.

Thanks for your help!

Answer

Mikkel, in the USA we use mainly "ON" and "BY". No difference. "WITH" must be British as I have never used it.

Answer

"Stands or falls on" sounds right to my (U. S. native) ears. The others sound odd.

"Stands or falls with" is an expression in its own right and means that the fates of two things are coupled. "The big political issue now is the economy. The President stands or falls with the economy."

Answer

I much prefer your second one, and "stands or falls on" gets 25,600,000 results on Google-over 10 million more than either of the others.

Answer

Hello Mikkel, 
According to Macmillan the phrase is followed by 'on' or 'by' so your second and third sentences are correct but you may find phrases where 'by/on which' precedes the expression.

I would say it is not an uncommon expression but I don't think it is in everyday use.

Hope this helps

Bob

Answer

In Britain the expression would be "stand or fall by/on" So the last two examples you give sound natural to me .
The government will stand or fall on the result of tonight's vote.
The program will stand or fall on the popularity of the new presenter.
The reputation of the school will stand or fall by the testimony of the students

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