look down on competitors

Meaning

This phrase means to think that rival businesses are inferior, less successful, or not worth taking seriously. While it can reflect high self-confidence, it often carries a warning tone in business, suggesting that underestimating rivals can lead to losing market share.

Examples

• We shouldn't look down on competitors just because they are smaller than us.

  We shouldn't look down on competitors just because they are smaller than us.

• The tech giant used to look down on competitors, but now those startups are winning the market.

  The tech giant used to look down on competitors, but now those startups are winning the market.

• It is a huge mistake to look down on competitors who are innovating faster than you.

  It is a huge mistake to look down on competitors who are innovating faster than you.

• Instead of looking down on competitors, we should analyze what they are doing right.

  Instead of looking down on competitors, we should analyze what they are doing right.

• The sales team's tendency to look down on competitors made them complacent.

  The sales team's tendency to look down on competitors made them complacent.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They look down to competitors because of their high market share.

  ✓ They look down on competitors because of their high market share.

  The correct preposition combination is 'look down on' when you mean to view something as inferior. 'Look down to' is incorrect.

• ✗ We must not look down competitors.

  ✓ We must not look down on competitors.

  'Look down' is an intransitive phrasal verb that requires the preposition 'on' to connect to an object like 'competitors'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Never ___ just because they are new to the industry; they might surprise you.

  💡 Think of rivals as inferior.

  Show answer

  look down on competitors

• Our CEO warned us not to ___ and to keep pushing for innovation.

  💡 Underestimate or feel superior to rival companies.

  Show answer

  look down on competitors