Cool MateAnd kill it vs Dominate vs Excel vs Succeed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
And kill it
Dominate
Excel
Succeed
| And kill it | Dominate | Excel | Succeed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ænd kɪl ɪt//🇺🇸 //ænd kɪl ɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪts/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪd/","/ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɑːmɪneɪt/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪts/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪtɪd/","/ˈdɑːmɪneɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈsɛl//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈsɛl// | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| 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 do well or to reach a goal |
| 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. | If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals. |
| 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 | A2 |
| 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 | admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to |
| Antonyms | - | submit, yield, surrender | fail, struggle, flounder | fail, stop, flop |
| 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'. | Confused with 'succeed in' vs 'succeed at', Using 'succeed' without an object or context, Incorrectly conjugating with 'succeeded' in future tense |
| 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 'succeed' in general situations where someone achieves their aims. More common in neutral contexts than in formal discussions. Avoid using in overly casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: And kill it vs Dominate vs Excel vs Succeed
What's the difference between And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Succeed?
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. Succeed: to do well or to reach a goal
Which is more common: And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Succeed?
Succeed 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. Succeed: If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals.
Can I use And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Succeed interchangeably?
Not always. And kill it, Dominate, Excel, and Succeed 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.