Cool MateAnd kill it vs Dominate vs Excel vs Shine
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
And kill it
Dominate
Excel
Shine
| And kill it | Dominate | Excel | Shine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ænd kɪl ɪt//🇺🇸 //ænd kɪl ɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪts/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪd/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɑːmɪneɪt/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪts/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪtɪd/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈsɛl//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈsɛl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃaɪn/","/ʃaɪnd/","/ʃaɪnz/","/ʃɒn/","/ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃaɪn/","/ʃaɪnd/","/ʃaɪnz/","/ʃəʊn/","/ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To do something very well or to succeed impressively. | To have control or power over something or someone. | To do very well in something. | to give off light or to be bright |
| Example | She really went on stage and killed it during her concert. | He hopes to dominate the competition this year with his new strategy. | She really excels in mathematics. | The sun will shine brightly tomorrow, bringing warmth to everyone. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | kill it on stage, kill it in sports, kill it at work | absolutely, completely, entirely, absolutely, completely, entirely | excel in sports, excel at studies, excel in academics | brightly, brilliantly, faintly, seem to, make something, at, from, in, brightly, brilliantly, faintly, seem to, make something, at, from, in |
| Antonyms | - | submit, yield, surrender | fail, struggle, flounder | dull, darken, fade |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal writing or speeches., Confusing with 'and kill time', which means to waste time instead., Overusing the phrase; it’s meant to be impactful. | Confused with 'dominion' and 'dominance'., Used as 'dominate of' instead of 'dominate over'., Mixing up 'dominate' with 'dominated' in verb forms. | Confused with 'exceed' when referring to surpassing a limit., Using 'excel' without specifying the area of excellence., Incorrectly conjugating the verb 'excel', e.g., saying 'excelled in' instead of 'excels in'. | Confusing 'shine' with 'shone' in past tense, 'Shine' can be used transitively; learners often forget to include an object, Using 'shine' in an incorrect form, e.g., 'shining' instead of 'shine' in certain sentences |
| Usage notes | Often used in casual contexts; usually positive, highlighting success or excellence in actions like performances or tasks. | Use 'dominate' in contexts involving competition or influence. It can refer to a person, team, or idea being superior. Avoid in casual conversations where softer terms like 'lead' might be preferable. | Use 'excel' when someone performs exceptionally well in a task or skill. It is appropriate in both academic and professional contexts. | Use 'shine' in contexts where something reflects light or is bright. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using in overly formal contexts, as alternatives like 'illuminate' may be more suitable. |
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Frequently asked questions: And kill it vs Dominate vs Excel vs Shine
What's the difference between And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Shine?
And kill it: To do something very well or to succeed impressively. Dominate: To have control or power over something or someone. Excel: To do very well in something. Shine: to give off light or to be bright
Which is more common: And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Shine?
Shine is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
And kill it: She really went on stage and killed it during her concert. Dominate: He hopes to dominate the competition this year with his new strategy. Excel: She really excels in mathematics. Shine: The sun will shine brightly tomorrow, bringing warmth to everyone.
Can I use And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Shine interchangeably?
Not always. And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Shine are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.