Meaning of Idiom “Use It or Lose It”
1. If you do not use or practice a particular skill that you have acquired, you will lose that skill over time.
2. Of fitness, if you do not continue to train or exercise, your fitness will decline and you will lose whatever you have gained.
3. If you do not use something within a specified time frame, it will be taken away or will no longer be viable.
Sentence Examples
“I’ve trained too hard all my life to let myself get out of shape now. Use it or lose it, you know.”
“You have to take your vacation days now. It’s use it or lose it, here.”
“Don’t fall for the shopping points scams. They have a use it or lose it policy that’s hidden in the fine print, and it’s usually only a few days.”
“One of the most important things you can do as you grow older is to stimulate your mind and keep learning new things. Just as with your muscles, it’s use it or lose it.”
“If you don’t use your federal grant money within the time allotted, you must return it. As will all such allocations, it’s use it or lose it.”
“I need to practice my Spanish. You know how it is with languages — use it or lose it.”
Origin
Used since at least the mid-1800s, this idiom has no clear-cut origin but seems to convey an obvious truth.