By the Day – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever noticed a project getting more complicated, or a child growing taller? It can feel like the change happens by the day. This common idiom means that something is changing, increasing, or decreasing steadily with each passing day. Learning by the day will help you describe gradual, daily progress or change.
What Does “By the Day” Mean?
“By the day” describes a situation that is evolving or progressing noticeably each day. It emphasizes a continuous, often rapid, daily change.
Think of it like this: A plant grows taller by the day. A situation becomes more difficult by the day. It highlights the steady passage of time and its effect.
Remember, it is used to stress the ongoing nature of a change, making it feel immediate and constant.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom to talk about many kinds of daily changes.
- Growth and Improvement: “Her confidence is growing by the day.”
- Deterioration or Worsening: “The political situation is becoming more unstable by the day.”
- Increasing Complexity: “This project gets more complicated by the day.”
The tone is observational and can express wonder, concern, or simply note a trend. It is common in both informal and formal contexts.
Example Sentences
- The baby’s vocabulary is expanding by the day.
- The cost of living is rising by the day.
- He is getting stronger by the day after his surgery.
- My list of tasks grows longer by the day.
Mini Dialogue
Friend 1: “How is your new business going?”
Friend 2: “It’s gaining momentum by the day! We’re getting more customers every single day.”
Friend 1: “That’s fantastic! It’s great to see it grow by the day.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is confusing “by the day” with “for a day” or “per day.” “By the day” describes change over successive days, while “per day” is a rate (e.g., “I earn $100 per day”).
❌ Don’t say: “I am paid by the day.” (This means your pay rate is daily, not that your pay is changing).
✅ Do say: “I am paid per day,” or “My savings are increasing by the day.”
Practice Tip
Think of something in your life that is changing steadily, like your proficiency in English or the growth of a plant. Try saying, “My [skill] is improving by the day,” or “This plant is getting bigger by the day.”
Final Note
This is a vivid and useful idiom for describing ongoing change. It helps you capture the dynamic nature of growth, progress, or decline. Use it to make your observations about time and change more powerful!
