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

[Mehrgan]

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


Thanks

 

[5jj]

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

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.

 

[opa6x57]

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.

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

 

[Tdol]

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

It's the same in BrE.