"...level of selling subsided..."?

Hi,
Can the level of selling subside? I thought subside would only be used for bad conditions or negative ideas.


Thanks

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Originally Posted by Mehrgan

Hi,
Can the level of selling subside? I thought subside would only be used for bad conditions or negative ideas.

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Things that subside become calmer or reduced. Very often things that become calmer are negative, but it does not have to be so. A higher than normal level of selling could subside, in my opinion.

In AmE - there isn't really a requirement that the thing decreasing be 'negative' to be able to use the word subside.


One could talk of the pain subsiding ... becoming less painful - positive.
One could also talk of the joy subsiding ... becoming more sad - negative.

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Not a teacher, 53-year-old American.
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… and that’s my opinion

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In AmE - there isn't really a requirement that the thing decreasing be 'negative' to be able to use the word subside.

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It's the same in BrE.