| 单词 | thin on the ground |
| 释义 | > as lemmasthin on the ground e. thin on the ground: (chiefly of persons) few in number, widely scattered; scarce, and therefore difficult to find. Also of a group, having few members. Cf. thick adj. 5a. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [phrase] > not abundant money (etc.) does not grow on trees1669 in short supply1804 thin on the ground1951 the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > [adjective] > rare scarce1398 dainty?a1500 rare1555 scant1581 few and far between1668 few and far between1668 spare1813 thin on the ground1951 1951 W. S. Churchill Second World War IV. i. vi. 86 There was very heavy fighting and many craft were sunk, but the Australians were thin on the ground and enemy parties got ashore at many points. a1957 A. Brooke in A. Bryant Turn of Tide 1939–43 (1957) ii. 115 I got up early..and started with the 3rd Division, which I found well established but infernally thin on the ground. 1964 ‘A. Gilbert’ Knock, knock, who's There? i. 14 The customers were still pretty thin on the ground. 1976 A. Hill Summer's End ii. 22 Work was a bit thin on the ground everywhere, wi' long dole queues. 1980 Times Lit. Suppl. 25 July 850/1 Even now, when the Anglo-Irish are precariously thin on the ground, people among them who don't like horses can be miserable in certain counties. < as lemmas |
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