little1 adjectivelittle2 determiner, pronounlittle3 adverb
littlelit‧tle1 /ˈlɪtl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 
WORD ORIGINlittle1
Origin:
Old English lytelEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a little farm on the hill
- a little laugh
- a little nap
- a cute little puppy
- a nice little house
- a poor little bird
- Alice gets angry over little things.
- He had climbed a little way up the tree and gotten scared.
- I haven't seen one of those since I was a little girl.
- I loved playing with blocks when I was little.
- It's just a little souvenir I brought back from Italy
- Oh, the poor little thing, he's hurt his paw.
- There's just that little matter of the $5000 you owe me.
- There were three bridesmaids at the wedding, and even the little one behaved beautifully.
- They've been married for ten years and have two little girls.
- They bought a nice little house near the beach.
- Todd's stupid little jokes
- We saw a little old lady with a walking-stick.
- What a lovely little dog!
- What an annoying little boy!
- Delicate little Louise, requiring round-the-clock, year-long, life-long protection.
- Her little boy was Johnny, seven years old, dark-eyed and sweet.
- On the jetty near the little lighthouse is a remarkably good restaurant.
- She was only about seventeen, with the most beautiful little face I had ever seen.
- So this little one is a surprise.
- The little Hoflin, who had her speciality showpiece in Act Two, did it very badly and finally tripped and fell.
- Where the Aztecs are is just a little short.
THESAURUS
not large in size, amount, or effect: · a small boat· small businesses· a small amount of money· small changes
[usually before noun] small – used about objects, places, and living things. Used especially with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something: · It’s a very pretty little town.· The poor little dog has hurt its leg.· The cake was decorated with little flowers.
used about prices, rents, levels, or standards: · People on low incomes are finding it difficult to pay fuel bills.· The crime rate in the area is relatively low.
[usually before noun] small and not very important or not very noticeable: · a slight problem· There’s been a slight improvement in his health.· a slight increase in sales
small and not important or not serious: · minor injuries· We’ve made some minor changes to the program.
small – used about places, buildings etc in which space is used effectively, or about phones, cameras, cars etc which are designed to be much smaller than usual: · The apartments are very compact.· a compact camera· It is a pleasant and compact city.
especially British English used about a room, house etc that is too small: · a poky bedroom· a poky flat
used about a space, room, or vehicle that is too small because people do not have enough room to move around: · They all lived together in a cramped apartment.· The car feels cramped with four adults in it.
not old: · a young man of about 22· My dad died when I was young.· There are excellent facilities for young children.· Young people are often unable to get jobs.
a small child is very young. Little sounds more informal than small, and is used especially in spoken English: · They have two small children.· We used to go camping a lot when the kids were little.
[only before noun] between the ages of 13 and 19: · a group of teenage boys· They have three teenage children.
especially written at the age when you change from being a child into an adult – used especially when talking about the problems that young people have at this age: · Sudden mood changes are common in adolescent girls.· adolescent behaviour
[only before noun] formal connected with young people who commit crime: · juvenile crime· a special prison for juvenile offenders· juvenile delinquents (=young people who commit crimes)
especially written seeming young, or typical of someone who is young – often used about someone who is no longer young: · a youthful 55-year-old· youthful enthusiasm· Andrew still has a slim youthful look about him.· The photograph showed a youthful, smiling Rose.
connected with sports played by young people rather than adults: · the junior championships· the junior champion
Longman Language Activatora small amount of a substance · This glue's really strong - you only need to use a little.a little water/money/time etc · A little make-up would make her look so much more attractive.· The garden could do with a little rain.· Try putting a little oil on the hinge and see if it stops squeaking.a little more/less · If we all used a little less paper, we'd probably save a forest or two.a little of (=a small amount of a specific substance) · A little of the grease got on my skirt.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount of something: · You shouldn't have given me so much toothpaste - I only needed a little bit.a little bit of: · A bit of detergent should get that stain out of your collar.· Save a little bit of the paint to do the trim.
only a small amount of something - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much paper is there in the printer?" "Not much."not much water/money/time etc: · There's not much light in this room, is there?· It was very cold, but there wasn't much snow on the ground.not very much: · That's not very much paint if you're planning to paint the whole bedroom.not much of (=a small part of a specific substance): · You can use my shampoo but there's not much of it left.
use this especially when it is a measured amount: · Squeeze a small amount onto the palm of your hand and spread the gel evenly through your hair.a small amount of: · Stir-fry the vegetables in a small amount of oil.· Even a small amount of the drug can be detected in the test.· Small amounts of radiation were found on their clothing.in small amounts: · Fluorine is present in small amounts on Mars.
a small amount of a liquid, flowing out of something: · Because of the drought, the river has become little more than a trickle.trickle of: · There was a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.
a small amount of a liquid, cream, or powder which has been put onto a surface with something such as a brush or with the fingers: · Can I use some of your perfume? I just want to put a dab on my wrist.dab of: · She put a dab of ointment on the cut.· The car just needs a couple of dabs of paint here and there, and it'll be fine.
if something is low in fat, sugar, salt etc, it contains very little fat, sugar etc: low in: · The casserole is low in calories and fat.· These new industrial cleaners are much lower in ammonia and other dangerous chemicals than before.low-fat/-sugar/-cholesterol etc: · He's been on a low-cholesterol diet since his heart attack.low fat/sugar/cholesterol etc content: · Non-dairy toppings tend to have lower fat content than whipping cream.
a very small amount of a substance a very small amount, usually so that there is not enough to be useful, to be important etc: · There was no ink in the bottle and very little left in the pen.very little water/money/time etc: · Fish contains very little fat.· The area has a lot of deer, but very little water and not much open space.
/scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · Don't forget to order some more paper for the copy machine - there's barely any left.hardly any water/money/time etc: · The ferns manage to grow with scarcely any sunlight.· He was fifty years old and his hair still had hardly any gray in it.
such a small amount that you can hardly see it, use it etc: almost no water/money/time: · Potatoes have almost no fat, but they're very filling.· He had a longish, plain face with a straight nose and almost no hair.almost none: · "How much glue is left?" "Almost none."almost none of something: · By the time the dentist had finished almost none of the existing tooth remained.
if there is no rain, food, oil, etc to speak of , there is almost none and not enough to have any effect: · There had been no rain to speak of for ten weeks and the garden was dying.none to speak of: · There's no fuel oil left - none to speak of, anyway.
an amount so small that it is very difficult to see: · She had very little grey hair, with just a trace near the temples.trace of: · Police found traces of blood on the killer's shoes.· Tests have revealed traces of poison in his food.
a small amount of food or drink · "Would you like some more coffee?" "Just a little."a little water/meat/cake etc · The next day Mark felt well enough to eat a little solid food.· Would you like a little ice cream with your pie?a little of (=a small amount of a specific food, drink etc) · I think I'll try a little of the casserole.a little more/less · If I were you I'd use a little less salt next time.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount: · "Can I serve you some soup?" "Alright, but just a little bit."a little bit of: · He only ate a little bit of dinner and then went straight to bed.· Would you like a bit of bacon with your eggs?· We still have a little bit of cheese left, if you want it.a (little) bit more/less: · Can I have a bit more red wine, please?
only a little - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much cake do you want?" "Not much, I'm on a diet."not much water/meat/cake etc: · There's not much wine left, but I think we can each have a glass.not much to eat/drink: · We need to do some shopping - there isn't much to eat at home.not very much: · You haven't eaten very much. Do you feel okay?
a very small amount, usually so small that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful etc: · We drink only occasionally, and even then very little.very little water/meat/cake etc: · The soup is made with lots of vegetables but very little chicken.very little of: · He ate very little of the food we had given him.
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · I thought you liked my lasagne, but you've eaten hardly any.hardly any water/meat/cake etc: · There's barely any sugar in these cookies at all.· Since his heart attack he's eaten scarcely any red meat.
informal a small amount of something that you drink: · "Do you take cream in your coffee?" "Yes, just a drop, please."drop of: · Would you like a drop of soda in your whisky?· He hasn't had a drop of alcohol in 20 years.
a small amount of a powder such as salt, flour etc which you can hold between your thumb and first finger: pinch of: · Add a pinch of salt and half a cup of breadcrumbs.· The stew normally tastes better with a pinch or two of dried herbs.
a very small amount of a liquid which is added to a drink or to food, usually in order to give it a stronger taste: dash of: · It's just vodka with orange juice and a dash of lime juice.· The secret of this sauce is a couple of dashes of brandy added just at the end.
a small amount of money · Most people will give a little to charity if they are asked.a little money/cash · I have a little cash with me, but not enough to pay for both of us.a little extra · He earns a little extra by working on weekends.a little over/under (=a little more or less than an amount of money) · The car costs a little over $20,000.a little more/less · A private room costs a little more, but it's worth it.
there is only a small amount of money, especially when you expect or need more: · After paying rent he doesn't have much left to buy food and pay bills.not much money/cash: · Pete didn't get much money when he sold his car.not very much: · I don't think he earns very much working at the bank.
a very small amount of money, so that there is not enough to have an effect: · He spends very little on food.· Considering they work so hard they're paid very little.very little money/cash: · When Maria lost her job she had very little money in savings.
if the amount that something costs is next to nothing , it is extremely cheap: · It costs next to nothing to go to an afternoon movie.· The company's profits climbed from next to nothing to $6 million in just two years.
a nominal sum, charge, or payment is very small, because what is important is that something is paid, even if it is much less than would usually be paid: · We are allowed to use the tennis courts for a nominal fee.a nominal £1/$5 etc: · Tickets for the concert are a nominal $3 for students.
an amount of money that is negligible is so small that it has no effect or is so small that it is not worth worrying about: · The cost of maintaining the machine is negligible.· Expenses for maintaining the investment fund are negligible - just half a percentage point of profit.
British /a drop in the bucket American informal an amount is a drop in the ocean or a drop in the bucket when it seems very small compared with what is really needed: · The United States pledge of $100 million to the rainforest fund is a drop in the ocean.· Third World debt is so massive that recent pledges to reduce it are just a drop in the bucket.
too little money: paltry sum/amount/pay/value etc such a small amount, sum etc that it is insulting to the people it is paid to: · Club owners in Kansas City paid paltry wages to jazz musicians but gave them steady work.· Last year workers were offered a paltry raise of only one percent.a paltry £1/$5 etc: · Many of the workers in the factory received a paltry $2 a day.
formal, especially written a derisory amount of money that you are offered or paid is so small that it is not worth considering seriously: · Government increases in health expenditure are derisory.a derisory £10/$100/10% etc: · The company's profits increased 35%, but they've only offered a derisory 2.5% pay increase.
an extremely small amount of money, especially when you think the people who are being paid it are being treated unfairly: · They expect their staff to work hard, but the wages they pay are a pittance.a mere/absolute pittance: · In the poorest parts of the country, children work 12-hour days for a mere pittance.
informal a surprisingly small amount of money - use this when you are comparing two prices or amounts: · The workers get paid peanuts.· He's got so much money, $500 is just peanuts to him.
a small amount of something such as a feeling etc · "Do you speak French?" "Just a little."a little trouble/patience/help etc · We had a little difficulty finding the place but we got there in the end.· You might need a little help getting started, but after that you should be fine.a little of · I can understand a little of the frustration he must be feeling.a little more/less · With a little more creativity they could have made the house look really nice.
also a bit especially British informal a little: · By now she was resisting him only a little bit.a little bit of: · We had a little bit of trouble reading his handwriting.· He brings a bit of experience and a lot of enthusiasm to the job.a (little) bit more/less: · I think a bit more discipline is needed with these children.
only a little: · Not much is known about her childhood.not much trouble/patience/help etc: · He doesn't have much experience of running a business.· It was clear that not much thought had been put into the plan.not very much: · We didn't have very much understanding of the problem then.
a little of something: · There is a small amount of truth to what he says.· Big improvements can be made with only a small amount of training and effort.
if there is an element of some quality such as truth, danger, or violence in something, there is a small amount of it, but enough to be noticed: · There is always an element of risk in mountain climbing.· She tried to maintain an element of mystery in her relationships.· Despite the agreement between the two countries, an element of uncertainty about the future remains.
: a taste of power/happiness/fame etc a short experience that shows you what it is like to have power, fame, happiness etc: · Alvin had had a brief taste of freedom and didn't want to live with his parents again.· She decided to become an actress after getting her first taste of fame in a local theatre production.
a very small amount of something such as a feeling, quality etc a very small amount, so that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc: · "How much do you know about computers?" "Very little, I'm afraid."very little trouble/patience/help etc: · I had very little energy left.· Changing the law will make very little difference.· It makes very little sense for companies to maintain large inventories these days.
such a small amount that you can hardly notice it: almost no trouble/patience/help etc: · Scientists have paid almost no attention to the new theory.· She supports the bill although she admits it has almost no chance of being passed.· The birth control campaign was begun 10 years ago but has had almost no impact in the rural areas.almost none: · "What progress have you made on your research project?" "Almost none."
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving, but I felt hardly any at all.hardly any trouble/patience/help etc: · They closed down the whole department with barely any notice to the staff.· Mark is so lazy, he makes scarcely any effort to improve his work.
a very small amount of something, that you almost do not notice: · "Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation in her voice.· For the first time a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.· After speaking to her for awhile, he began to detect a trace of a Southern accent.
formal a small amount, especially when you expect more: little trouble/patience/help etc: · Little progress was made during the negotiations.· The report offers little hope that the economy will improve any time soon.· There seems to be little chance of him coming home for Christmas.
a minimal amount of something is the smallest that is possible, so that it is not worth thinking or worrying about: · The new operating technique involves minimal risk to patients.· The impact of the sale on current employees should be minimal.· The crew had very little experience and were given minimal safety training.
a negligible amount of something is so small that it has almost no effect at all: · The damage done to his property was negligible.· Economists say raising the minimum wage would have a negligible effect on employment rates.· The chances of a healthy adult contracting the disease are negligible.
if you know, learn, say, hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know, learn etc very little about it: · I learned next to nothing at school - the teachers were awful.· My parents know next to nothing about the men I date.
when something or someone moves or changes a little · His work has improved a little since he began the special classes.· Gas prices have fallen a little, but they are still much higher than last year.· I could see that Mrs Ewing's hand was trembling a little.
also a bit British informal a little: · Do you mind if I open the window a little bit.· The centre of the town had changed a bit, but everything else was just as I remember it.· Isn't that house leaning a little bit to the right?
a little, but not enough to be important or easy to notice: · The temperature had risen slightly, but it was still very cold.· He stood for a moment, his body swaying slightly.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · Things haven't changed much over the past few years.· I added more memory to my computer, but its performance didn't improve much.
a little tired/sad/older/bigger etc · I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'll go upstairs and have a rest.· When you're a little older, you'll understand why I'm doing this.· "Do you feel sad that you're leaving?" "Just a little."
also a (tiny) bit British informal a little: · I think David was a bit disappointed I forgot his birthday.· I'm a little bit cold. Do you mind if I turn up the heat?· Aren't you a bit young to be going to nightclubs?· I tried on the dress but it was just a tiny bit small.
a little, but not enough to be important or to notice: · Florida has a slightly larger population than Illinois.· Sean's car is a slightly different colour.· Lynn's daughter is only slightly older than mine.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · We should be there soon. It's not much further.· His son's not much younger than I am.not much good: · I'm not much good at explaining things.
only a little or not at all: · The house isn't very old. It was built in the 1990s.· I still go running, but not very often.· "Was the bike expensive?" "Not very."· The President was not very happy that the information had been leaked to the press.
someone's son or daughter someone's son or daughter, of any age: · She named her first child Katrin.· One of her children lives in Australia now.· The house seems very quiet now that all the children have left home.an only child (=a child that has no brothers or sisters): · Alexandra was an only child and the centre of her mother's world.
informal someone's son or daughter - use this about children aged up to 14 or 15: · All I ever wanted was to get married and have kids.· Could you look after the kids this evening?
someone's male child: · We have two teenage sons.· Her son used to work in Texas.· The family business has now been taken over by Anderson's eldest son.
someone's female child: · Our youngest daughter is getting married next month.· My aunt has five daughters and three sons.· In traditional societies, parents were often reluctant to send their daughters to school.
spoken someone's young son or daughter: · Paula had to go home - her little girl's sick.· "How old's your little boy?" "He's three."
a person's or animal's baby or babies - used humorously or in formal contexts about someone's children: somebody's offspring: · Parents with the disease are likely to pass it on to their offspring.· Hardly a day goes by without Mrs Molt or one of her offspring calling around to borrow something.
not enough also insufficient not enough for what you need. insufficient is much more formal than not enough: · You're not getting enough sleep.not enough (something) to do something: · We didn't win enough games to get to the championship.· No matter how much money they offer me, it wouldn't be enough to make me like the job.· There was insufficient evidence to prove their allegations.not enough (something) for something: · There weren't enough apples for a pie, but they're good for eating.· Officials were worried that supplies would be insufficient for the long winter that was being predicted. not nearly enough/nowhere near enough (=much less than enough): · £1 million is not nearly enough to clean up the water in the bay.· The time they've given us is nowhere near enough.
less than you need or fewer than you need - use this especially when you are criticizing or complaining about something: · Some churches are in danger of closing because there are too few priests.· There is too little cooperation between the opposing parties to get anything done in government.too little/few to do something: · There's too little time to do everything.· There were some police officers there, but too few to control the crowd.far too little/few (=much too little or few): · Most of the students explained far too little about their research methods.
if something is scarce , there is not enough of it, so it is very difficult to get or buy: · During the war, things like clothes and shoes were scarce.· Cheap, clean hotel rooms are scarce in this city, especially in the summer.
an amount of something that is inadequate is not enough for a particular purpose: · The state pension is wholly inadequate -- no one can live on £50 a week.· Inadequate lighting made it difficult to continue the work after dinner.inadequate to do something: · The amount of fertilizer used was inadequate to ensure a good harvest.
formal not enough: · The bank charged me for having insufficient funds in my account.· There has been insufficient rainfall over the past two years, and farmers are having trouble.insufficient to do something: · The data we have is insufficient to draw any conclusions.
if a product is in short supply people cannot buy or get enough of it: · Health workers reported that medicines and basic equipment were in short supply.· The unemployment rate was at 2.5%, and talented job seekers were in short supply.
if there is a lack of something there is not enough of it, or none at all: · Fernando's eyes were red through lack of sleep.· It's lack of confidence, not lack of ability, that makes most people fail.· They threw the case out of court because of a lack of evidence.
if time or money is short , there is not as much of it as you would like: · Money's a little short this month -- we'd better be careful about spending.· The military authorities considered that the need for action was great, and time was short.
only a short time ago if something happened recently , it happened a short time before now, especially a few days or weeks ago: · The President has recently returned from a five day tour of South America.only recently: · a new species of plant that was only recently discovered in southern Braziluntil recently: · He lived in Boston until quite recently.· Until recently, commercial fishermen had been allowed to shoot sea lions if they tried to steal their catch. very recently: · "When did she go back to Italy?" "Oh, very recently - just a couple of days ago."as recently as (=used when something happened surprisingly recently): · As recently as the mid sixties, Nelson Rockefeller was considered unsuitable for the presidency because he had once been divorced.recently discovered/completed/built etc: · a recently published textbook· the recently industrialized countries of Southeast Asia
in the recent past: · Not long ago, computers were crude, unreliable machines, used by only a few experts.· Not long ago I asked a friend what her children gave her for her birthday. "Peace," she said. "They went out for the day."not so long ago: · There was a time not so long ago when everyone felt confident about investing in property.
very recently: · So what is the government's reaction to this news? A short time ago our political correspondent Jon Lander spoke to the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook.· The red wolf survived until a short time ago in east Texas, but is now believed extinct in the wild.only/just a short time ago: · Seeing the tramp, Thomas remembered how he himself had been poor only a short time ago.
: newly formed/created/appointed/married etc formed, married etc very recently, especially during the last few days or weeks: · A newly married couple have moved into the house next door.· The group meets regularly in the newly built Chinese community center.· Mr Chandler is now director of the company's newly formed publishing division.
: freshly cut/cooked/made/painted etc cut, cooked etc a very short time ago, especially during the last few minutes or hours: · There's a pot of freshly made coffee on the kitchen table.· Add one clove of freshly crushed garlic.· Someone had placed a bunch of freshly cut roses on her desk.· At the beginning of term the school looked bright and clean with its freshly painted walls and polished floors.
spoken use this to say that something happened or you did something recently: · I met Lucy the other day outside Budgens.· Well, did my dad tell you what happened to me in the car the other day?just the other day: · I can't believe this weather - it was freezing just the other day!
a short time ago, usually not more than a few hours: · "Is there a Mrs Lambert staying at the hotel?'' "Yes, she checked in a short while ago.''just a short/little while ago: · Bobby's attorney gave me a call just a little while ago, to talk about the terms of the will.
informal fairly recently, usually a few weeks or months ago: · I broke my leg a little while back when I fell off a horse.
not tall not as tall as most people: · 'What does she look like?' 'She's short and fat, with brown hair.'· a short, stocky man with powerful shoulders· Mr Haddad was several inches shorter than his wife.
fairly short: · She's not very tall - about 1.4 metres, I'd say.· Well, I'm not very tall and my legs are short, so I always had trouble in the hurdle race.
not as big or as tall as most people: · a small man in a dark suit· How come I always seem to go out with small men?· My sister's quite a bit smaller and slimmer than me.small for his/her age (=smaller than other children of the same age): · Bobby's small for his age, but he's perfectly healthy.
short and small, used especially to describe children or old people: · We saw a little old lady with a walking-stick.· Who's this little boy in the blue sweater?· I haven't seen one of those since I was a little girl.
a woman who is petite is attractively short and thin: · His wife was a petite dark-haired woman in her early thirties.
a man who is stocky is fairly short and looks heavy and often strong: · Brandon's quite stocky really, isn't he?· He's a big stocky bloke and he plays rugby.
short and fat, especially in an unattractive way: · The cook was short and squat, with thick eyebrows and a slight moustache.· a shabby, squat, balding man in an old raincoat
small in size · His office was a small room at the top of the building.· Which is the smallest state in the US?· Mrs Newman was small and slightly plump, with a round face.· People are buying smaller cars because they are cheaper to run.· These shoes are too small for me.
small - use this especially to show how you feel about someone or something, for example to show that you like them, dislike them, or feel sorry for them: · It's just a little souvenir I brought back from Italy· What an annoying little boy!· Oh, the poor little thing, he's hurt his paw.· What a lovely little dog!· They bought a nice little house near the beach.
a house, room etc that is compact is small but comfortable and convenient, because the space has been used effectively; a compact camera, computer etc is designed to be small and easy to carry: · The apartment was ideal for the two of us - small but compact.· There is a compact dining area, which feels cozy rather than cramped.· The PowerShot is a compact unit that weighs less than 11 ounces and fits easily in your pocket.
: pocket calculator/torch/camera etc one that is small and that you can carry easily, for example in your pocket or bag: · Students are allowed to take pocket calculators into their exams.· She took a pocket mirror out of her handbag and put on some lipstick.· a pocket dictionary
an object that is dainty is small and delicate in an attractive way: · We drank Turkish coffee out of dainty china cups.· She was wearing a short black dress and dainty black sandals.
a short time a very short time: · Can I show you something? It'll only take a minute.· Luke thought for a moment and then said: "Would you like to come too?"· Can you turn that off a minute (=for a minute) ?in a minute/moment: · Yes, I'm coming in a moment.a minute/moment ago: · Helen was here a minute ago. You've just missed her.for a minute/moment: · If you'd been quiet for a minute, I'd explain what happened.
also a sec informal spoken a very short time - use this especially when asking someone to wait for a short time: · Just a second - I think it's on the desk upstairs.for a second/sec: · For a second there, I forgot what it was called.in a second/sec: · Hang on, I'll be with you in a sec.
a short time: · "How long will it take?" "Oh, not long - just a couple of hours."· I saw her not long ago.not long before/after: · His book was published not long after he died.· It wasn't long before Gemma lost all interest in the new puppy. not long to go (=used to say that something will happen in a short time): · "When's the baby due?" "Three weeks, so there's not long to go."won't be long (=use this to say that someone or something will come or return soon): · I'm popping to the shop, I won't be long.· Supper won't be long.
especially British, spoken a short time: · Wait a bit, I've nearly finished.· I sat down, and after a bit, the phone rang.· Do you mind looking after the kids for a bit while I go out?
a short period of time, during or after which something happens: · Bob's only worked here for a short while, about six months I think.· It always takes a little while to get used to the climate.a little/short while ago: · He was on the telly a short while ago.
a short period of time during which a lot of things happen: in/within a short space of time: · It's amazing how much you can learn in such a short space of time.· In the brief space of time since the war ended, citizens have managed to rebuild over half the city.· She had gained an awful lot of journalistic experience within a short space of time.
someone who is not important · He's not really an important figure in the organization.· Don't worry about the critics. They're not important - they just think they are.
not important enough or powerful enough to worry about or treat seriously: · The anti-war group was an insignificant minority within the party.· The spies' payroll included insignificant clerks and highly placed officials.
especially American, informal a person or organization that is not important because they do not have any power or influence: · He got rich trading illegally on the stock market, using the little guy's money.· When the big retailers open a store, the little guys lose business.
someone who is well-known, for example in politics or literature, but is not really respected or considered to be important: · His books are tremendously popular, but most of the critics regard him as a lightweight.political/intellectual/literary etc lightweight: · It would be dangerous to dismiss her as a political lightweight.
informal someone who is considered to be unimportant because they are not famous, powerful, or rich: · He went from being a nobody to being paid $2 million a year.· I felt like a complete nobody when I lost my job.
someone who is not at all important, powerful, or interesting, and has no special qualities or skills: · Next to him, the other dancers seemed like nonentities.· He packed his government with nonentities, who would never challenge his leadership.
informal a person or group who has very little power or importance compared to other people or organizations: · Environmental groups are small fry against the power of the big multinationals.· Only the small fry on the drugs scene got caught by the police.
young · You're too young to smoke.· a single mother with two young children· When I was younger, I used to play a lot of baseball.· Her youngest son works for a television company.· At 35, he is the youngest person to hold this office.
especially spoken very young - use this to talk about a young child: · When I was little we used to go camping a lot.· There were three bridesmaids at the wedding, and even the little one behaved beautifully.little boy/girl (=a young child, or a young son or daughter): · They've been married for ten years and have two little girls.· Who's that little boy in the blue sweater?
young, usually less than about ten years old: · We loved going to the zoo when we were small.· The kids were too small to really understand.small children: · She soon discovered that looking after small children was very tiring.
a brother or sister who is younger than you · Tony's the oldest - he has two younger sisters.· The king was killed by his younger brother.
a younger sister or brother, especially one who is still a child: · Mike's little brother is doing much better at school than he is.· She went to the ballet class with her little sister every week.
informal a younger sister or brother, who is usually still a child: · He has a kid sister in the fourth grade at school.· I suddenly realized Bobby was more than just an annoying kid brother who always wanted to use my stuff.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
It could be a nice little business. It was another of her silly little jokes. He arrived a little while ago. two little boys playing in the street Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead. Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is. What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime. You could at least say that you’re sorry. you and your dirty little deals It’s got lots of useful little extras. I enjoyed it far more than I expected. We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement. Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do. She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid. There was very little likelihood of her getting the job. He was a lovely little boy. I don’t think it matters much what you study. Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches? There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired. You’re a nasty little brute! The journey took longer than normal. We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). a puny little guy a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally! She was just short of six feet tall. The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so. a tiny little baby Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding.
spoken (=extremely small) a little tiny puppy
a little tiny puppy American English spoken (=extremely small)
informal (=a small present, or a small amount of food) I’d like to buy him a little something to thank him.
I’d like to buy him a little something to thank him. It could be a nice little business. It was another of her silly little jokes. (=used to show sympathy) The poor little thing had hurt its wing.
The poor little thing had hurt its wing. He arrived a little while ago. two little boys playing in the street (=someone’s son or daughter who is still a child) Mum, I’m 17 – I’m not your little girl any longer.
Mum, I’m 17 – I’m not your little girl any longer. (=a younger brother or sister who is still a child) Her little brother and sister were fighting again.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Her little brother and sister were fighting again. Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead.· He had no alternative but to resign.
Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.· The floor was covered in tiny bits of glass.
What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? (also a kid brother American English) (=younger brother)· My kid brother was always annoying me.
· The prisoners knew there was little chance of escape.
· Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.
· The neon sign made little clicks as it changed colour.
· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.
The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime.· He lived all his life in a small cottage by the river.
You could at least say that you’re sorry.· tiny creatures such as mice
· By then the president had ceased to have any credibility.
· The child gave a small cry and burst into tears.
(=not much detail)· Maps of the area showed little detail.
you and your dirty little deals· I have no doubt that you are right.
(=make people sure or almost sure about something)· The evidence left no doubt that he was the murderer.
(=used to talk about how sure people are about something)· There is little doubt that he will play for England one day.
(=not have enough food)· The refugees had very little to eat and no clean water.
· Tom looked slightly embarrassed when his name was called out.
(=not much enthusiasm)· In the nearby villages, there’s little enthusiasm for the airport.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
It’s got lots of useful little extras.· It is a little-known fact that the actor was born in London.
I enjoyed it far more than I expected.· Can you do me a small favour?
We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.
Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement.· Where the money came from is of no importance.
Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.· Poor farmers have little incentive to grow crops for export.
· It’s a small island, barely twenty miles long.
She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid.· She put her arms around him and gave him a big kiss.
· He let out a nervous little laugh.
There was very little likelihood of her getting the job.· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
He was a lovely little boy.· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
I don’t think it matters much what you study. (=think that something is not a good idea)· I can see no merit in violence.
· The essay was full of little mistakes.
(=one that is not serious)· We need to clear up this little misunderstanding.
Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches?· She made a restless little movement.
There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired.· It was a minor mystery how the file had survived the fire.
(=it is something that you will never understand – used humorously)· Where socks disappear to after they’ve been washed is one of life’s little mysteries.
· A short nap may make you feel better.
You’re a nasty little brute!· I was a little nervous before the interview.
informal:· I feel as if I've found my little niche in life.
The journey took longer than normal. (=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
(=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.
(=have a possibility that things might get better)· There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.
(=have no other choice than to do something)· I had no option but to fire him.
We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. (also a bit overweight)· He was tall and slightly overweight.· He’s a bit overweight, not too much.
· I'm afraid I have little patience with bureaucrats and their official rules.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him).· Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
a puny little guy (=not enough regard)· He drove himself on, with little regard for his own health.
· The allegations bore no relationship to the facts.
· He bore little resemblance to the photograph in the newspaper.
· He decided to stop and take a short rest.
· They have to work very hard for very little reward.
a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally!· I was always a little scared of my father.
· Mrs Wood gave a little scream.
(=a personal secret that very few people know)· You must promise me that this will be our little secret.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London. She was just short of six feet tall.· Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
· This information on its own is of little significance.
(=a younger sister)· She was very fond of her little sister.
· I always have a little sleep in the afternoon.
· She gave him an apologetic little smile.
The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.· Attempts to resolve the dispute met with little success.
· He was a little surprised by her request.
· I’m glad we’ve had this little talk.
a tiny little baby· a pretty little town in the French Alps
(also a bit unfair British English spoken)· You’re being slightly unfair on him.
· The information was of little value.
· They come from a small village in Laos.
· I just felt like a little walk.
Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding. (also a bit worried British English)· I was a bit worried about my exams.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Moving himself as little as possible, Chick leant forward and pressed a button.· Which as a practical matter is usually about twelve years and can be as little as eight.· But if they do not leave, he said, ecological disaster could be as little as five or 10 years away.· These sets are no bigger than a transistor radio and cost as little as $ 100 at the nearby discount electronics store.· He waited until she had closed the door then went back up, making as little noise as possible.· Flipping a thousand bunches can earn a worker as little as $ 30.· Mr Guerin's lawyer said he had advised Mr Guerin to say as little as possible for the time being.· Subscribers also need to buy a special device that costs as little as $ 20.
· Even when it is in session it devotes relatively little energy to the serious scrutiny and debate of government policy.· Of his formal education we know relatively little.· And for better or worse, the new interactivity brings enormous political leverage to ordinary citizens at relatively little cost.· The puppy will then settle in with relatively little difficulty as a member of the family.· Research has reflected relatively little success in teaching moderation to severely dependent alcoholics.· These facts and figures added relatively little to what was already known in outline.· As a result, import prices rise relatively little even when the dollar plunges.
· The apathy of the people towards unemployment was one of the things that caused so little notice to be taken of it.· These people here have so little conception of our world that sometimes I feel myself as if I must have dreamed it.· She must have passed out, but then she had drunk so little.· Most of us are like sleepwalkers here, because we notice so little.· It may well be the reason why this motility pattern has previously attracted so little attention.· So many stories, so little time.· Or are we perhaps just a little surprised that it should take so little to set nation against nation.
· Too much there or too little?· But that would be too little too late.· By the time the mare impacts occurred there would probably have been too little dust available to fill the maria.· Although the licensing agreement is good news for Apple, some wonder whether it is too little, too late.· Surely there'd been too little time, but then her father wouldn't have needed much time, would he?· Conversely, there might be too little capacity for decisive action in a cabinet system when there is no stable majority.· Too much time was spent on systems considerations and too little on financial management.· The question is whether it is too little too late.
· At any time, very little visiting took place and the women were always alone.· The rich supposedly think otherwise -- and manage to pay very little.· When Roeder began he found very little material and much that was written erroneously, even in the Dictionary of National Biography.· Each is a hermetically sealed universe, bumping off the others with very little cross-pollination.· The great course has changed very little since then.· There would be very little potential in the relationship.· We used to live in this poky flat in the middle of London when I was very little.· The thin carbon dioxide atmosphere on Mars admits sunlight to the surface with very little attenuation.
NOUN· Relatively little attention has been paid to the origins of labouring class poetry.· I paid little attention to him.· It may well be the reason why this motility pattern has previously attracted so little attention.· We spend little time on peers' expectations, for the managers devoted little attention to them.· When connected and adjusted, an air pump needs very little attention.· One of his great failings was paying too little attention to the daily news.· Yet television paid relatively little attention to them.· It was a loaner from a manufacturer and had received little attention from the borrowers ahead of me.
· We have even found ourselves teaching a little bit of linguistics, since some of the comrades seemed interested.· I got hit a little bit with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.· She didn't like any of this, not one little bit.· A little bit of sleep was the nearest thing to consolation left for people like us.· While climbing the last little bit I couldn't help thinking of all the mates who had been killed.· At first we got a little bit of static from nonparents.· I prefer to talk a little bit.· I had to make minor adjustments, moving the steering wheel a little bit this way, a little bit that way.
· He was unable to find work and went back to the North to be near his little boy.· The little boy was too innocent to realize the implications of telling adults what they want to hear rather than the truth.· Forget Sophie, who was given to drama and tantrum anyway, what about Ben, my little boy?· Even the little boys polished their groins when she clipped by on the sidewalk.· It was something of a shock to him to realize how fond of the little boy he had become.· B.. Once there was a little boy whose name was Henry.· But then they were just two little boys.· The little boy laughed and ran back to where she was sitting.
· On that occasion it was my little brother Jerry who shone.· They look like big brother and little brother.· It was Tess who worried and worked and felt responsible for her little brothers and sisters.· He had gone on an expedition with his little brother to a discount shopping mall in Reading, Pennsylvania.· He had been seeking out the spot on which his little brother was strangled and we had encountered the murderer there.· She is also mean to my little brother.· Francis, my husband, was like a little brother to me.· And little brother Ernest would follow.
· If there are six people walking abreast there is little chance that they will create an avenue for you to go through.· This leaves little chance of obtaining job satisfaction.· He believes that there is little chance of him finding a job in the near future.· Despite their gains of recent weeks, opposition leaders acknowledge that they have little chance of toppling the Khartoum government by force.· But that process would be complicated, and stands little chance of success.· The women had claimed they were channeled into low-paying jobs with little chance for promotion.· Without a theatrical release in their own domestic market, they stood little chance of recouping the money lavished on them.· Or are the few crabs that we see so voracious that any new recruit stands little chance of survival?
· Suffer the little children...· The little child, the wood dove, was going under.· There were several families under the trees now, with little children running around and babies crawling about in the grass.· The little child did not look dead at all.· Shoals of little children reach up to this counter with hot handfuls of change.· But you sleep softly, little child, Sunk deep in rest within your cheerless home, Only a box, brass-bound.· It went faster and with more noise than the roundabouts for little children with engines and ducks and bicycles fixed on.· On her second morning in Motijhil she found five little children waiting for her.
· This little difference adds up to a large saving.· It was that hour of dusk when the streetlights and headlights come on but make little difference.· They drag on from generation to generation and emigration to Britain makes very little difference.· The pressing seemed to make little difference and only with the extended salting times.· There is little difference between the two.· At the time it made little difference what it might be since I glided in and out of consciousness throughout the procedure.· Amongst Sun readers, there was little difference between Labour and Conservative identifiers in their perceptions of its anti-Labour, pro-Conservative bias.· The adults would take turns staying awake and fanning those sleeping, but this made little difference.
· There is little doubt that their handwriting skills develop at a slower pace than their linguistic skills.· But there was little doubt that the Chiangs were somewhere in the background.· There seems to be little doubt, however, that the development of the form imbricata is determined genetically.· There is little doubt that this man deserved to die.· There is little doubt that the effectiveness of the strike was greatly impaired by its internal difficulties and external opposition.· There is little doubt that those Roman writers who equate slaves with concubines were telling the truth.· There is little doubt that the effect would be to drastically reduce the number of generic substitutes supplied by pharmacists.· There seems to be little doubt that work-inhibited students have limited faith in their ability to persevere in academic life.
· And there appears to be little evidence that that will occur soon.· Long-term studies on mortality showed that there was little evidence to believe that losing weight will prolong your life, either.· The other grave goods provide what little evidence we have for the economic basis and material culture of its population.· Until recently, most studies found little evidence that job turnover was on the rise.· These suppositions are rejected because there is little evidence to support them.· There is little evidence of economic outcomes.· There is regrettably little evidence to support or to challenge this.· As yet, there is little evidence to support this conclusion.
· Margaret offered Maura her little finger with a shy smile.· The last thing he did was bite off the little finger of her left hand.· The little finger is not used in harp-playing.· Before long, Jennifer has Carlos wrapped around her little finger.· I use it on my little finger and my fingers are real thin.· I gave a little finger wave and he waved back.· He nodded politely to Wakelate and took the glass of brandy with a crooked little finger.· The green eyes and brown summer skin and slim legs and shapely little fingers.
· Eva was only two then, and all I could think was that he'd stolen my little girl.· One day the serious little girl brought him a small mirror, much cracked.· Why not settle in, raise your little girl, sign up for the concert and drama series.· She was a little girl who lived across from Ali's old Louisville home when he was at the top.· The little girl lit another match.· You're just an ordinary little girl.· When she called me a little girl, I remember I wanted to cry.
· At present very little help can be given to such enquirers.· Center Ray Ferraro made it 2-0 with a little help from Verbeek.· And with a little help from its friends, the big multinational companies and landowning farmers, it is spreading its roots.· There are only challenged people, who with a little help can be just like everyone else.· Paul Reece keeping out Bobby Barnes, with a little help from the cross-bar.· With little help from her father, she raised the younger children and saw them all through college.· The concept of responsibility offers little help.· Both programs are the product of congresses dominated by Democratic liberals, with little help from Republicans.
· There's little hope in this film - the forces of law are as bad in their way as the drug barons.· The Standing was in its ninth month, and there seemed little hope of compromise.· And there was little hope that government intervention would bring about a more flexible cinema industry.· It may seem to some of you that there's very little hope left for us in Krishnapur.· Bloodied but unwilling to give up, he has little hope of winning Florida or any of the Southern state primaries Tuesday.· If that is right, there is little hope unless they can quickly persuade people to start buying again.· Around me I could find little hope....
· At first sight these distinctions may seem of little interest to the archaeologist.· They had little interest in matching the four-year, $ 4. 5 million contract the Florida Marlins threw at Hernandez.· The Government has no little interest in this as the negative food trade gap is about £5.7 billion.· With fuel cheap these days, the market has shown little interest in the issue.· Increasingly high standards favour the larger wealthy companies that have little interest in tropical diseases.· An angry crowd gathered, confronting the police, who showed little interest in dispersing them, and began taunting the marshals.· Those involved in the experimental approach to athletics showed little interest in boosting performance.· They show as little interest in their customers as do the worst government bureaucracies.
· Me and this little kid of 12.· Even that, the poor little kid didn't like.· Will: For little kids it was better as a puppet show.· A group of little kids were doing what is called the Carrot Dance, over by the groceries.· The little kids seemed to like it.· Oh yes, one of her sons has leukaemia, poor little kid, hasn't he?· Last week, we got a little kid outfitted with glasses.
· The impatience of the genius with the follies of littler men gives thrust and venom to Swift's satirical output.· It tickles me to see the little man so happy with him-self.· The little man nodded his bald head, his eyes simple as a child's.· A chubby little man in a short-sleeved sport shirt and baggy gray twill pants came out the door.· In Cowley's opinion, the arrogant little man should be invited to leave the country in the very near future indeed.· Before them stood a little man about the same size as the Munchkins.· Before he could, the little man brought out a small laser pistol from a pouch at his belt.· Walking in front of Converse was a little man called the Caporal who carried a Browning automatic rifle decorated with hibiscus.
· It was a dismal little room.· I went back to my dark little room.· The codes of governments and religions are usually quite explicit and allow little room for diversity or change.· I went to my little room and did not turn on the light.· She could see partly into the little room at the end of the main tunnel.· There was another little room, the Quiet Room, plain concrete block walls without chairs or windows.· Now this little room was subdivided into a dressing area and a cement-floored shower.· The present world has little room for such quaint people.
· There was a lot of deep feeling in his little sister, Joe thought, in spite of her gaiety and light-heartedness.· Hold on a minute, little sister.· She and Nick, and a few tough-looking boys, and an ugly girl with a squint who had two little sisters.· Fifi and Carmencita watched while Mundin unwrapped the snake from around his neck and poked one end at his little sister.· His little sister had sickened and died before her second birthday.· His little sister gripped a shoot of fuchsia bougainvillea and wailed.· She was very fond of her little sister, so pretty, so volatile, so amusing.· We called my little sister Face because she had such a pretty one.
· And Judge Lawrence Verney allowed himself a wry little smile.· I gave in to that little smile.· And Katie would give a smug little smile and then whisper about it half the night.· It is just a little smile, and it fades fast.· They only gazed back at us with eerie little smiles.· A little smile, out of focus at the edge of my vision.· Nicolo Sabatini permitted himself a little smile.· I prompted, and he found my name and checked it off, turning to me with a cheering little smile.
· It's an absurd little thing really and yet somehow or other it's important.· They are little things that snowball against the weaker team until the contest becomes no contest.· It was the little things that disturbed him.· But there were frequent little things he did in speech that irritated me.· Lots of little things have been suggested.· He was so good in every department, they figured it would be easy for him to learn this one little thing.· Inchbad was pleased to see Fenella, pretty little thing, approach them.· Well now, one surely would have thought that for such little things those great big waves might have seemed threatening.
· It's the little things in life really.· They are little things that snowball against the weaker team until the contest becomes no contest.· The witness began to cry, and said they had a quilt and other little things.· My husband continues to lie about little things, such as what he spent money on or where he had lunch.· I cost him a lot in little things, but I know he wants me to ask for something big.· Such little things, snow in July, are indelible.· There were a lot of little things that I felt were wrong.· We take the little things serious, and the big ones as a joke.
· So much remained to do, and he had so little time in which to do it.· But Republicans and Democrats are wasting little time in maneuvering for political advantage.· When I make the stake-out it takes too little time.· Everywhere there is a hurry, and little time for dallying, or grieving.· What he was asking her to do required a degree of trust that he had too little time to earn.· Promoting literacy, then, will be Hass' calling for the next two years, leaving him little time to compose.· Ironically, the sublime progress of Knight and Singh left little time for the real enforcers.· Lamar Alexander, who spent little time in the state, got only 7 percent of the vote.
· This can be done by direct road, passing through a number of attractive little towns on the way.· Coming from a little town like Westfield, we were all accepted.· Le Palais, where the ferry docks, is an agreeable, unspoilt little town of ancient houses and cobbled squares.· The little town crowns a low plateau just out of reach of the flood plain of the nearby Deerfield River.· A mile or so north of Milford is the little town of Belper.· Hard to believe, but Oro Valley was actually just a nice little town prior to becoming a sprawling, master-planned community.· Take, for example, the attack on the little town of Gibeah in Judges 20.· I was raised in upstate New York in a little town called Rome.
· I can't stay but a little while.· Every now and then there are ledges I can rest on and even enjoy myself for a little while.· A little while on my own.· At least for a little while.· Concentrating on Emma would help to keep her worries at bay for a little while.· A little while after Castro came in.· A little while later he gave his horses a rest, and returned to the spot they had refused to pass.· He came down from Massachusetts for a little while and paid a call on Whitman in Brooklyn.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► good 'un/bad 'un/little 'un etc► a little bird told me (something)► somebody couldn’t care less► twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger► a big fish in a little/small pond► funny little something► more haste less speed► have/hold something in your hot little hand► well-known/little-known/lesser-known► it’s (a little/bit) late in the day (to do something)► the little people► the more ..., the more/the less ...► the more ..., the more/the less ...► black/elegant etc (little) number► some little/few something► (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that)► in a world of your own/in your own little world
1size [usually before noun] small in size: - We have put together a few of the most popular itineraries to help make your choice that little bit easier.
- A pinstriped husband in the city patronisingly fond of the little woman and her projects.
- The report explodes the myth that men are the bed-hopping rogues while the little woman waits at home.
- What is incomprehensible is John McEnroe's apparent efforts to keep the little woman at home.
- He was even maybe a little bit relieved, because immediately it was clear that Ernie was what she needed.
- I prefer to talk a little bit.
- I really just did it for a little bit, and then gave it up.
- There was, I suspect, a little bit of Otago isolationism involved.
- Gelbspan's speech was of no account.
- As she grew up, her father had been of no account to her.
- Charles Coffin continues: The cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had been of little account.
- Epictetus' magic wand can make poverty of no account.
- In a transforming instant, the est intellectual truth is seen to be that intellectual truth is of no account.
- It was of no account to Vinoba Bhave a Brahmin, whether the man before him was a Brahmin or an outcaste.
- There was a war on and such emotional family matters were really of no account.
- Yet this self-protective brand of public service was of no account to the Lordly Phantasms.
- You are a mere picture editor, a workman, whose views on editorial staff are of no account.
- Both make-ups can be available at the same time and, so far as value goes, there is nothing to choose between them.
- But there is little to choose between the two in terms of overall performance.
- Choosing the gender of your baby is an individual decision of no consequence to anybody else.
- During the bad weather we experienced a few disasters and events, but they were of little consequence.
- It clearly ranks as the first written literature of any consequence.
- Neither country had other exports of any consequence.
- No signal can be received outside that range but this is of no consequence.
- They were of no consequence, I knew they were of no consequence.
- A true old devil, Manson vanishes in a puff of smoke.
- I really miss the old devil.
- Impotent old devils and dried-up hags always deride the efforts of the young.
- Indeed, I worship the little devil, but only as a travelling companion.
- Not that he's the worst of them, poor old devil.
- So much, thought Blanche, for flirting with the lascivious old devil.
- There was one old devil with red eyes.
- Bethlehem will always be a nice little earner.
- However worthy his motives, the good doctor is on a nice little earner.
- It has become, let's face it, a nice little earner.
- Some of the nurses found it a nice little earner on top of their poor weekly pay.
- That would be a nice little earner for us.
- With an eye for a nice little earner, Del Trotter dictated his letter of application to chief sports writer Roy Collins.
- The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
- Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
- He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
- His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
- In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
- It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
- Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
- The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
- All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
- All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
- All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
- Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
- Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
- In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
- They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
- With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
- And that little horror Zach was around.
- His creation left nothing to the imagination.
- Plastics - that here leave little to the imagination - were widely used in fashion.
- Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
- Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
- And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
- Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
- And last but not least, the baby of the family.
- And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
- And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
- And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
- And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
- She was madam, all right, a proper little madam.
- But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
- His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
- On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
- Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
- There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
- There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
- This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
- What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
- Educators, meanwhile, often view business with more than a little suspicion, distrust, and envy.
- Gordon was, he admitted, more than a little relieved.
- He was more than a little disappointed that his son was not athletic.
- It may be no more than a little park near work or a church that you stop by during lunch hour.
- Love: the word would be utterly meaningless in this context; no more than a little blast of sound.
- Many of these ideas depend more than a little on what you believe in.
- The ex-boyfriend is more than a little interested.
- "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
- There were 50 people there, more or less.
- This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
- What she says is more or less true.
- Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
- And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
- As things are, it's more or less useless.
- Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
- Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
- Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
- The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
- This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
- A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
- And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
- However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
- Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
- Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
- She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
- This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
- I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
- Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
- Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
- I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
- In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
- Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
- That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
- The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
- Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
- Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
- They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
- But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
- He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
- In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
- It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
- Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
- Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
- The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
- The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
- As Jack goes on hunting, the little ones look at him as an expert.
- Bowel frequency, for example, was little greater in the older patients than in the younger ones.
- Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
- Helping with academic or social tasks, the older children develop a sense of responsibility for the younger ones in the building.
- Mr Preston had recently cleared out his old trees and planted new young ones.
- Older respondents tend to state their replies in honorifics; younger ones are less reverential.
- The older kids were at school and two of the women had taken the younger ones to the park.
- They were thinking of wives and little ones far away, and wondering if they would ever see them again.
- There are precious few seats inside the court room.
- At the moment there is precious little.
- Eight voices then, and precious little else.
- Food shopping takes time, a commodity of which most of us have precious little.
- From which it follows that many will choose precious little attachment.
- I had no answers and precious little consolation to offer him to mitigate the facts.
- Once the polarization occurs, there is precious little Mrs Clinton can do about it.
- She had to find some other way to save Angel's precious little life, and find it quickly.
- There was precious little to learn.
- The hotel has little except price to recommend it.
- An alternative approach-optical fibre - has much to recommend it.
- As such, it has much to recommend it.
- But in terms of an effective solution the voting method has little to recommend it.
- In principle this format has much to recommend it, but in this case the practice has not been successful.
- It is plain that, in the long run, the gentle art of compromise has much to recommend it.
- Nevertheless, the principle of chisel ploughing has much to recommend it in the right conditions.
- Such a way of proceeding has much to recommend it, but scant progress has been made in that direction.
- This cooperative family decision-making has much to recommend it.
- If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
- Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
- Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
- The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
- Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
- When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
- As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
- Cartoonish, to say the least.
- It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
- The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
- The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
- The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
- There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
- Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
- First, I would strongly advise other CEOs to follow our experience because the results stood to be nothing short of spectacular.
- It is little short of tragic that she has been cut off, while still at the peak of her singing power.
- The 18 tracks of the new record are so dizzyingly dexterous, the live show should be nothing short of amazing.
- The city hopes to attract around 3.5 million visitors annually, but last year's figures were little short of disastrous.
- The quality of sound via these outputs is nothing short of amazing.
- The result is nothing short of brilliant and has met with raves in all the glossy industry mags.
- This is nothing short of a scandal.
- What they envision is nothing short of a new corporate structure, in which accounting and other functions are outsourced.
- Before that, and this should tell you a little something, it was not much more attractive for Stanford.
- Can yet give us a little something now, Morreen.
- Let me just tell you a little something!
- Mrs Fanning also stood up and said she could stand to leave behind a little something.
- Pawlowski knows a little something about horsepower.
- So I thought, a little push, a little shove, a little something extra to shake it loose.
- This time aliens stop by for a visit and leave a little something, um, behind.
- Well, I ate a little something in my room earlier.
- A 3 percent funding increase is too little, too late to save the tutoring program.
a little house a cake decorated with little flowers She was cutting the meat up into little bits.little tiny/tiny little spoken (=extremely small) a little tiny puppylittle bitty American English spoken (=extremely small)a little something informal (=a small present, or a small amount of food) I’d like to buy him a little something to thank him.► see thesaurus at small2something you like or dislike [only before noun] used between an adjective and a noun to emphasize that you like or dislike something or someone, although they are not important, impressive etc: It could be a nice little business. a useful little gadget It was another of her silly little jokes. a boring little manpoor little thing (=used to show sympathy) The poor little thing had hurt its wing.3 a little bit a)a small amount of somethinglittle of With a little bit of luck we should finish by five o’clock. I’m going to give you a little bit of advice. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. b)slightly or to a small degree: I was a little bit disappointed.4time/distance [only before noun] short in time or distance: You could have a little sleep in the car. We walked a little way along this path. He arrived a little while ago.5young little children are young: We didn’t have toys like this when I was little.little boy/girl two little boys playing in the streetsomebody’s little boy/girl (=someone’s son or daughter who is still a child) Mum, I’m 17 – I’m not your little girl any longer.somebody’s little brother/sister (=a younger brother or sister who is still a child) Her little brother and sister were fighting again.► see thesaurus at young6slight [only before noun] done in a way that is not very noticeable: a little smile Nicolo gave a little nod of his head.7unimportant [only before noun] a)not important: She gets very angry over little things. There isn’t time to discuss every little detail. b)not important – used when you really think that something is important: There’s just that little matter of the £5,000 you owe me.8(just) that little bit better/easier etc better, easier etc by a small amount that will have an important effect: Working fewer hours will make life just that little bit easier for me.9the little woman old-fashioned someone’s wife – often used humorously but now considered offensive by many women → a little bird told me at bird(4)GRAMMAROrder of adjectivesIf there is more than one adjective, the adjectives are usually used in a fixed order.You say: · What a pretty little cottage! ✗Don’t say: What a little pretty cottage!You say: · I bought a little black bag. ✗Don’t say: I bought a black little bag.ComparativesYou can say smaller or smallest, but ‘littler’ and ‘littlest’ are not often used. You say: · Her feet are even smaller than mine. ✗Don’t say: Her feet are even littler than mine. | Her feet are more little than mine.Grammar guide ‒ ADJECTIVESlittle1 adjectivelittle2 determiner, pronounlittle3 adverb
littlelittle2 ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun Longman Language Activatora small amount of a substance
· This glue's really strong - you only need to use a little.a little water/money/time etc · A little make-up would make her look so much more attractive.· The garden could do with a little rain.· Try putting a little oil on the hinge and see if it stops squeaking.a little more/less · If we all used a little less paper, we'd probably save a forest or two.a little of (=a small amount of a specific substance) · A little of the grease got on my skirt.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount of something: · You shouldn't have given me so much toothpaste - I only needed a little bit.a little bit of: · A bit of detergent should get that stain out of your collar.· Save a little bit of the paint to do the trim.
only a small amount of something - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much paper is there in the printer?" "Not much."not much water/money/time etc: · There's not much light in this room, is there?· It was very cold, but there wasn't much snow on the ground.not very much: · That's not very much paint if you're planning to paint the whole bedroom.not much of (=a small part of a specific substance): · You can use my shampoo but there's not much of it left.
use this especially when it is a measured amount: · Squeeze a small amount onto the palm of your hand and spread the gel evenly through your hair.a small amount of: · Stir-fry the vegetables in a small amount of oil.· Even a small amount of the drug can be detected in the test.· Small amounts of radiation were found on their clothing.in small amounts: · Fluorine is present in small amounts on Mars.
a small amount of a liquid, flowing out of something: · Because of the drought, the river has become little more than a trickle.trickle of: · There was a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.
a small amount of a liquid, cream, or powder which has been put onto a surface with something such as a brush or with the fingers: · Can I use some of your perfume? I just want to put a dab on my wrist.dab of: · She put a dab of ointment on the cut.· The car just needs a couple of dabs of paint here and there, and it'll be fine.
if something is low in fat, sugar, salt etc, it contains very little fat, sugar etc: low in: · The casserole is low in calories and fat.· These new industrial cleaners are much lower in ammonia and other dangerous chemicals than before.low-fat/-sugar/-cholesterol etc: · He's been on a low-cholesterol diet since his heart attack.low fat/sugar/cholesterol etc content: · Non-dairy toppings tend to have lower fat content than whipping cream.
a very small amount of a substance a very small amount, usually so that there is not enough to be useful, to be important etc: · There was no ink in the bottle and very little left in the pen.very little water/money/time etc: · Fish contains very little fat.· The area has a lot of deer, but very little water and not much open space.
/scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · Don't forget to order some more paper for the copy machine - there's barely any left.hardly any water/money/time etc: · The ferns manage to grow with scarcely any sunlight.· He was fifty years old and his hair still had hardly any gray in it.
such a small amount that you can hardly see it, use it etc: almost no water/money/time: · Potatoes have almost no fat, but they're very filling.· He had a longish, plain face with a straight nose and almost no hair.almost none: · "How much glue is left?" "Almost none."almost none of something: · By the time the dentist had finished almost none of the existing tooth remained.
if there is no rain, food, oil, etc to speak of , there is almost none and not enough to have any effect: · There had been no rain to speak of for ten weeks and the garden was dying.none to speak of: · There's no fuel oil left - none to speak of, anyway.
an amount so small that it is very difficult to see: · She had very little grey hair, with just a trace near the temples.trace of: · Police found traces of blood on the killer's shoes.· Tests have revealed traces of poison in his food.
a small amount of food or drink · "Would you like some more coffee?" "Just a little."a little water/meat/cake etc · The next day Mark felt well enough to eat a little solid food.· Would you like a little ice cream with your pie?a little of (=a small amount of a specific food, drink etc) · I think I'll try a little of the casserole.a little more/less · If I were you I'd use a little less salt next time.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount: · "Can I serve you some soup?" "Alright, but just a little bit."a little bit of: · He only ate a little bit of dinner and then went straight to bed.· Would you like a bit of bacon with your eggs?· We still have a little bit of cheese left, if you want it.a (little) bit more/less: · Can I have a bit more red wine, please?
only a little - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much cake do you want?" "Not much, I'm on a diet."not much water/meat/cake etc: · There's not much wine left, but I think we can each have a glass.not much to eat/drink: · We need to do some shopping - there isn't much to eat at home.not very much: · You haven't eaten very much. Do you feel okay?
a very small amount, usually so small that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful etc: · We drink only occasionally, and even then very little.very little water/meat/cake etc: · The soup is made with lots of vegetables but very little chicken.very little of: · He ate very little of the food we had given him.
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · I thought you liked my lasagne, but you've eaten hardly any.hardly any water/meat/cake etc: · There's barely any sugar in these cookies at all.· Since his heart attack he's eaten scarcely any red meat.
informal a small amount of something that you drink: · "Do you take cream in your coffee?" "Yes, just a drop, please."drop of: · Would you like a drop of soda in your whisky?· He hasn't had a drop of alcohol in 20 years.
a small amount of a powder such as salt, flour etc which you can hold between your thumb and first finger: pinch of: · Add a pinch of salt and half a cup of breadcrumbs.· The stew normally tastes better with a pinch or two of dried herbs.
a very small amount of a liquid which is added to a drink or to food, usually in order to give it a stronger taste: dash of: · It's just vodka with orange juice and a dash of lime juice.· The secret of this sauce is a couple of dashes of brandy added just at the end.
a small amount of money · Most people will give a little to charity if they are asked.a little money/cash · I have a little cash with me, but not enough to pay for both of us.a little extra · He earns a little extra by working on weekends.a little over/under (=a little more or less than an amount of money) · The car costs a little over $20,000.a little more/less · A private room costs a little more, but it's worth it.
there is only a small amount of money, especially when you expect or need more: · After paying rent he doesn't have much left to buy food and pay bills.not much money/cash: · Pete didn't get much money when he sold his car.not very much: · I don't think he earns very much working at the bank.
a very small amount of money, so that there is not enough to have an effect: · He spends very little on food.· Considering they work so hard they're paid very little.very little money/cash: · When Maria lost her job she had very little money in savings.
if the amount that something costs is next to nothing , it is extremely cheap: · It costs next to nothing to go to an afternoon movie.· The company's profits climbed from next to nothing to $6 million in just two years.
a nominal sum, charge, or payment is very small, because what is important is that something is paid, even if it is much less than would usually be paid: · We are allowed to use the tennis courts for a nominal fee.a nominal £1/$5 etc: · Tickets for the concert are a nominal $3 for students.
an amount of money that is negligible is so small that it has no effect or is so small that it is not worth worrying about: · The cost of maintaining the machine is negligible.· Expenses for maintaining the investment fund are negligible - just half a percentage point of profit.
British /a drop in the bucket American informal an amount is a drop in the ocean or a drop in the bucket when it seems very small compared with what is really needed: · The United States pledge of $100 million to the rainforest fund is a drop in the ocean.· Third World debt is so massive that recent pledges to reduce it are just a drop in the bucket.
too little money: paltry sum/amount/pay/value etc such a small amount, sum etc that it is insulting to the people it is paid to: · Club owners in Kansas City paid paltry wages to jazz musicians but gave them steady work.· Last year workers were offered a paltry raise of only one percent.a paltry £1/$5 etc: · Many of the workers in the factory received a paltry $2 a day.
formal, especially written a derisory amount of money that you are offered or paid is so small that it is not worth considering seriously: · Government increases in health expenditure are derisory.a derisory £10/$100/10% etc: · The company's profits increased 35%, but they've only offered a derisory 2.5% pay increase.
an extremely small amount of money, especially when you think the people who are being paid it are being treated unfairly: · They expect their staff to work hard, but the wages they pay are a pittance.a mere/absolute pittance: · In the poorest parts of the country, children work 12-hour days for a mere pittance.
informal a surprisingly small amount of money - use this when you are comparing two prices or amounts: · The workers get paid peanuts.· He's got so much money, $500 is just peanuts to him.
a small amount of something such as a feeling etc · "Do you speak French?" "Just a little."a little trouble/patience/help etc · We had a little difficulty finding the place but we got there in the end.· You might need a little help getting started, but after that you should be fine.a little of · I can understand a little of the frustration he must be feeling.a little more/less · With a little more creativity they could have made the house look really nice.
also a bit especially British informal a little: · By now she was resisting him only a little bit.a little bit of: · We had a little bit of trouble reading his handwriting.· He brings a bit of experience and a lot of enthusiasm to the job.a (little) bit more/less: · I think a bit more discipline is needed with these children.
only a little: · Not much is known about her childhood.not much trouble/patience/help etc: · He doesn't have much experience of running a business.· It was clear that not much thought had been put into the plan.not very much: · We didn't have very much understanding of the problem then.
a little of something: · There is a small amount of truth to what he says.· Big improvements can be made with only a small amount of training and effort.
if there is an element of some quality such as truth, danger, or violence in something, there is a small amount of it, but enough to be noticed: · There is always an element of risk in mountain climbing.· She tried to maintain an element of mystery in her relationships.· Despite the agreement between the two countries, an element of uncertainty about the future remains.
: a taste of power/happiness/fame etc a short experience that shows you what it is like to have power, fame, happiness etc: · Alvin had had a brief taste of freedom and didn't want to live with his parents again.· She decided to become an actress after getting her first taste of fame in a local theatre production.
a very small amount of something such as a feeling, quality etc a very small amount, so that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc: · "How much do you know about computers?" "Very little, I'm afraid."very little trouble/patience/help etc: · I had very little energy left.· Changing the law will make very little difference.· It makes very little sense for companies to maintain large inventories these days.
such a small amount that you can hardly notice it: almost no trouble/patience/help etc: · Scientists have paid almost no attention to the new theory.· She supports the bill although she admits it has almost no chance of being passed.· The birth control campaign was begun 10 years ago but has had almost no impact in the rural areas.almost none: · "What progress have you made on your research project?" "Almost none."
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving, but I felt hardly any at all.hardly any trouble/patience/help etc: · They closed down the whole department with barely any notice to the staff.· Mark is so lazy, he makes scarcely any effort to improve his work.
a very small amount of something, that you almost do not notice: · "Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation in her voice.· For the first time a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.· After speaking to her for awhile, he began to detect a trace of a Southern accent.
formal a small amount, especially when you expect more: little trouble/patience/help etc: · Little progress was made during the negotiations.· The report offers little hope that the economy will improve any time soon.· There seems to be little chance of him coming home for Christmas.
a minimal amount of something is the smallest that is possible, so that it is not worth thinking or worrying about: · The new operating technique involves minimal risk to patients.· The impact of the sale on current employees should be minimal.· The crew had very little experience and were given minimal safety training.
a negligible amount of something is so small that it has almost no effect at all: · The damage done to his property was negligible.· Economists say raising the minimum wage would have a negligible effect on employment rates.· The chances of a healthy adult contracting the disease are negligible.
if you know, learn, say, hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know, learn etc very little about it: · I learned next to nothing at school - the teachers were awful.· My parents know next to nothing about the men I date.
when something or someone moves or changes a little · His work has improved a little since he began the special classes.· Gas prices have fallen a little, but they are still much higher than last year.· I could see that Mrs Ewing's hand was trembling a little.
also a bit British informal a little: · Do you mind if I open the window a little bit.· The centre of the town had changed a bit, but everything else was just as I remember it.· Isn't that house leaning a little bit to the right?
a little, but not enough to be important or easy to notice: · The temperature had risen slightly, but it was still very cold.· He stood for a moment, his body swaying slightly.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · Things haven't changed much over the past few years.· I added more memory to my computer, but its performance didn't improve much.
a little tired/sad/older/bigger etc · I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'll go upstairs and have a rest.· When you're a little older, you'll understand why I'm doing this.· "Do you feel sad that you're leaving?" "Just a little."
also a (tiny) bit British informal a little: · I think David was a bit disappointed I forgot his birthday.· I'm a little bit cold. Do you mind if I turn up the heat?· Aren't you a bit young to be going to nightclubs?· I tried on the dress but it was just a tiny bit small.
a little, but not enough to be important or to notice: · Florida has a slightly larger population than Illinois.· Sean's car is a slightly different colour.· Lynn's daughter is only slightly older than mine.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · We should be there soon. It's not much further.· His son's not much younger than I am.not much good: · I'm not much good at explaining things.
only a little or not at all: · The house isn't very old. It was built in the 1990s.· I still go running, but not very often.· "Was the bike expensive?" "Not very."· The President was not very happy that the information had been leaked to the press.
when it is unlikely that there will be a good result if there is little chance/hope etc of something happening, it is unlikely to happen, although you want it to happen: · There's little chance of the hostages being released.· There seemed little prospect of any great decrease in unemployment.· I see little hope of improvement in relations between our two countries.
to be unlikely to succeed in doing something: · Students who cannot read by this point do not stand much chance of getting the help they need.· We weren't opposed to the plan, but we didn't think it had much chance of succeeding.
a very small possibility of being successful: have an outside chance of (doing) something: · She lost the first two games of the tournament, but still has an outside chance of winning the cup.there is an outside chance (that): · There's still an outside chance that the FBI will find the man they are looking for.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There’s very little money left. Many of the students speak little or no English. He knew little or nothing (=almost nothing) about fixing cars. My lawyer advised me to say as little as possible. He did precious little (=very little) to help. The laboratory tests are of little real value. Would you like a little more milk in your coffee?COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead. Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is. What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime. You could at least say that you’re sorry. you and your dirty little deals It’s got lots of useful little extras. I enjoyed it far more than I expected. We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement. Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do. She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid. There was very little likelihood of her getting the job. He was a lovely little boy. I don’t think it matters much what you study. Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches? There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired. You’re a nasty little brute! The journey took longer than normal. We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). a puny little guy a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally! She was just short of six feet tall. The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so. a tiny little baby Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding.
There’s very little money left. Many of the students speak little or no English. He knew little or nothing (=almost nothing) about fixing cars. My lawyer advised me to say as little as possible. He did precious little (=very little) to help. The laboratory tests are of little real value. Would you like a little more milk in your coffee? Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead.· He had no alternative but to resign.
Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.· The floor was covered in tiny bits of glass.
What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? (also a kid brother American English) (=younger brother)· My kid brother was always annoying me.
· The prisoners knew there was little chance of escape.
· Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.
· The neon sign made little clicks as it changed colour.
· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.
The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime.· He lived all his life in a small cottage by the river.
You could at least say that you’re sorry.· tiny creatures such as mice
· By then the president had ceased to have any credibility.
· The child gave a small cry and burst into tears.
(=not much detail)· Maps of the area showed little detail.
you and your dirty little deals· I have no doubt that you are right.
(=make people sure or almost sure about something)· The evidence left no doubt that he was the murderer.
(=used to talk about how sure people are about something)· There is little doubt that he will play for England one day.
(=not have enough food)· The refugees had very little to eat and no clean water.
· Tom looked slightly embarrassed when his name was called out.
(=not much enthusiasm)· In the nearby villages, there’s little enthusiasm for the airport.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
It’s got lots of useful little extras.· It is a little-known fact that the actor was born in London.
I enjoyed it far more than I expected.· Can you do me a small favour?
We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.
Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement.· Where the money came from is of no importance.
Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.· Poor farmers have little incentive to grow crops for export.
· It’s a small island, barely twenty miles long.
She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid.· She put her arms around him and gave him a big kiss.
· He let out a nervous little laugh.
There was very little likelihood of her getting the job.· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
He was a lovely little boy.· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
I don’t think it matters much what you study. (=think that something is not a good idea)· I can see no merit in violence.
· The essay was full of little mistakes.
(=one that is not serious)· We need to clear up this little misunderstanding.
Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches?· She made a restless little movement.
There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired.· It was a minor mystery how the file had survived the fire.
(=it is something that you will never understand – used humorously)· Where socks disappear to after they’ve been washed is one of life’s little mysteries.
· A short nap may make you feel better.
You’re a nasty little brute!· I was a little nervous before the interview.
informal:· I feel as if I've found my little niche in life.
The journey took longer than normal. (=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
(=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.
(=have a possibility that things might get better)· There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.
(=have no other choice than to do something)· I had no option but to fire him.
We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. (also a bit overweight)· He was tall and slightly overweight.· He’s a bit overweight, not too much.
· I'm afraid I have little patience with bureaucrats and their official rules.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him).· Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
a puny little guy (=not enough regard)· He drove himself on, with little regard for his own health.
· The allegations bore no relationship to the facts.
· He bore little resemblance to the photograph in the newspaper.
· He decided to stop and take a short rest.
· They have to work very hard for very little reward.
a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally!· I was always a little scared of my father.
· Mrs Wood gave a little scream.
(=a personal secret that very few people know)· You must promise me that this will be our little secret.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London. She was just short of six feet tall.· Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
· This information on its own is of little significance.
(=a younger sister)· She was very fond of her little sister.
· I always have a little sleep in the afternoon.
· She gave him an apologetic little smile.
The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.· Attempts to resolve the dispute met with little success.
· He was a little surprised by her request.
· I’m glad we’ve had this little talk.
a tiny little baby· a pretty little town in the French Alps
(also a bit unfair British English spoken)· You’re being slightly unfair on him.
· The information was of little value.
· They come from a small village in Laos.
· I just felt like a little walk.
Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding. (also a bit worried British English)· I was a bit worried about my exams.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► as little as £5/3 months/10 feet etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► good 'un/bad 'un/little 'un etc► a little bird told me (something)► somebody couldn’t care less► twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger► a big fish in a little/small pond► funny little something► more haste less speed► have/hold something in your hot little hand► well-known/little-known/lesser-known► it’s (a little/bit) late in the day (to do something)► the little people► the more ..., the more/the less ...► the more ..., the more/the less ...► black/elegant etc (little) number► some little/few something► (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that)► in a world of your own/in your own little world
1only a small amount or hardly any of something: - "Do you feel sad that you're leaving?" "Just a little."
- "Do you speak French?" "Just a little."
- "Would you like some more coffee?" "Just a little."
- A little make-up would make her look so much more attractive.
- A little of the grease got on my skirt.
- A little over half the class can swim.
- A private room costs a little more, but it's worth it.
- Gas prices have fallen a little, but they are still much higher than last year.
- He earns a little extra by working on weekends.
- His work has improved a little since he began the special classes.
- I'm a little upset with you right now.
- I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'll go upstairs and have a rest.
- I can understand a little of the frustration he must be feeling.
- I could see that Mrs Ewing's hand was trembling a little.
- I have a little cash with me, but not enough to pay for both of us.
- I know only a little bit of Korean.
- I think I'll try a little of the casserole.
- If I were you I'd use a little less salt next time.
- If we all used a little less paper, we'd probably save a forest or two.
- Most people will give a little to charity if they are asked.
- Constant logging threatens to wipe out the little that is left of the rain forest.
- They spent what little money they had on a new stereo.
- After these meetings we would all sit and eat together what little groceries the people had been able to collect.
- Archie suddenly loomed over me, his bloated Zeppelin figure blocking out what little light there was.
- At times, Alvin clung slavishly to what little he had observed firsthand of the process of making dances.
- By now Dad was sixty-five, and what little lenience he may once have possessed had long since hardened into steely inflexibility.
- Grandmother eats what Little Red Cap has brought her; and the girl has learned her lesson.
- It was appalling and ridiculous, and this inner battle was draining away what little strength she had left.
- Personally, I used to devote what little thought I could muster to the question of nutcrackers.
- The majority of the displaced are therefore reluctant to leave the camps and prefer what little protection the church can offer.
- A little ketchup goes a long way.
- Clearly, a little imagination goes a long way.
- Like a powerful adhesive, a little of it goes a long way.
- Gelbspan's speech was of no account.
- As she grew up, her father had been of no account to her.
- Charles Coffin continues: The cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had been of little account.
- Epictetus' magic wand can make poverty of no account.
- In a transforming instant, the est intellectual truth is seen to be that intellectual truth is of no account.
- It was of no account to Vinoba Bhave a Brahmin, whether the man before him was a Brahmin or an outcaste.
- There was a war on and such emotional family matters were really of no account.
- Yet this self-protective brand of public service was of no account to the Lordly Phantasms.
- You are a mere picture editor, a workman, whose views on editorial staff are of no account.
- Both make-ups can be available at the same time and, so far as value goes, there is nothing to choose between them.
- But there is little to choose between the two in terms of overall performance.
- Choosing the gender of your baby is an individual decision of no consequence to anybody else.
- During the bad weather we experienced a few disasters and events, but they were of little consequence.
- It clearly ranks as the first written literature of any consequence.
- Neither country had other exports of any consequence.
- No signal can be received outside that range but this is of no consequence.
- They were of no consequence, I knew they were of no consequence.
- A true old devil, Manson vanishes in a puff of smoke.
- I really miss the old devil.
- Impotent old devils and dried-up hags always deride the efforts of the young.
- Indeed, I worship the little devil, but only as a travelling companion.
- Not that he's the worst of them, poor old devil.
- So much, thought Blanche, for flirting with the lascivious old devil.
- There was one old devil with red eyes.
- Bethlehem will always be a nice little earner.
- However worthy his motives, the good doctor is on a nice little earner.
- It has become, let's face it, a nice little earner.
- Some of the nurses found it a nice little earner on top of their poor weekly pay.
- That would be a nice little earner for us.
- With an eye for a nice little earner, Del Trotter dictated his letter of application to chief sports writer Roy Collins.
- The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
- Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
- He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
- His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
- In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
- It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
- Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
- The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
- All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
- All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
- All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
- Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
- Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
- In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
- They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
- With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
- And that little horror Zach was around.
- His creation left nothing to the imagination.
- Plastics - that here leave little to the imagination - were widely used in fashion.
- Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
- Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
- And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
- Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
- And last but not least, the baby of the family.
- And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
- And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
- And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
- And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
- She was madam, all right, a proper little madam.
- But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
- His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
- On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
- Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
- There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
- There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
- This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
- What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
- Educators, meanwhile, often view business with more than a little suspicion, distrust, and envy.
- Gordon was, he admitted, more than a little relieved.
- He was more than a little disappointed that his son was not athletic.
- It may be no more than a little park near work or a church that you stop by during lunch hour.
- Love: the word would be utterly meaningless in this context; no more than a little blast of sound.
- Many of these ideas depend more than a little on what you believe in.
- The ex-boyfriend is more than a little interested.
- "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
- There were 50 people there, more or less.
- This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
- What she says is more or less true.
- Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
- And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
- As things are, it's more or less useless.
- Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
- Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
- Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
- The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
- This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
- A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
- And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
- However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
- Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
- Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
- She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
- This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
- I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
- Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
- Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
- I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
- In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
- Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
- That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
- The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
- Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
- Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
- They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
- But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
- He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
- In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
- It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
- Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
- Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
- The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
- The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
- As Jack goes on hunting, the little ones look at him as an expert.
- Bowel frequency, for example, was little greater in the older patients than in the younger ones.
- Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
- Helping with academic or social tasks, the older children develop a sense of responsibility for the younger ones in the building.
- Mr Preston had recently cleared out his old trees and planted new young ones.
- Older respondents tend to state their replies in honorifics; younger ones are less reverential.
- The older kids were at school and two of the women had taken the younger ones to the park.
- They were thinking of wives and little ones far away, and wondering if they would ever see them again.
- There are precious few seats inside the court room.
- At the moment there is precious little.
- Eight voices then, and precious little else.
- Food shopping takes time, a commodity of which most of us have precious little.
- From which it follows that many will choose precious little attachment.
- I had no answers and precious little consolation to offer him to mitigate the facts.
- Once the polarization occurs, there is precious little Mrs Clinton can do about it.
- She had to find some other way to save Angel's precious little life, and find it quickly.
- There was precious little to learn.
- The hotel has little except price to recommend it.
- An alternative approach-optical fibre - has much to recommend it.
- As such, it has much to recommend it.
- But in terms of an effective solution the voting method has little to recommend it.
- In principle this format has much to recommend it, but in this case the practice has not been successful.
- It is plain that, in the long run, the gentle art of compromise has much to recommend it.
- Nevertheless, the principle of chisel ploughing has much to recommend it in the right conditions.
- Such a way of proceeding has much to recommend it, but scant progress has been made in that direction.
- This cooperative family decision-making has much to recommend it.
- If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
- Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
- Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
- The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
- Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
- When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
- As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
- Cartoonish, to say the least.
- It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
- The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
- The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
- The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
- There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
- Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
- First, I would strongly advise other CEOs to follow our experience because the results stood to be nothing short of spectacular.
- It is little short of tragic that she has been cut off, while still at the peak of her singing power.
- The 18 tracks of the new record are so dizzyingly dexterous, the live show should be nothing short of amazing.
- The city hopes to attract around 3.5 million visitors annually, but last year's figures were little short of disastrous.
- The quality of sound via these outputs is nothing short of amazing.
- The result is nothing short of brilliant and has met with raves in all the glossy industry mags.
- This is nothing short of a scandal.
- What they envision is nothing short of a new corporate structure, in which accounting and other functions are outsourced.
- Before that, and this should tell you a little something, it was not much more attractive for Stanford.
- Can yet give us a little something now, Morreen.
- Let me just tell you a little something!
- Mrs Fanning also stood up and said she could stand to leave behind a little something.
- Pawlowski knows a little something about horsepower.
- So I thought, a little push, a little shove, a little something extra to shake it loose.
- This time aliens stop by for a visit and leave a little something, um, behind.
- Well, I ate a little something in my room earlier.
- A 3 percent funding increase is too little, too late to save the tutoring program.
There’s little doubt in my mind that he’s guilty. I paid little attention to what the others were saying. Little is known about the causes of the problem. Changes in the law have done little to improve the situation.little of Little of their wealth now remains. There’s very little money left. Many of the students speak little or no English. He knew little or nothing (=almost nothing) about fixing cars. My lawyer advised me to say as little as possible. He did precious little (=very little) to help. The laboratory tests are of little real value.2a little a small amount: Fortunately I had a little time to spare. Susan speaks a little French. A little over half the class can swim. He walked on a little (=a short distance) and then turned back.a little more/less Would you like a little more milk in your coffee?little of The city is regaining a little of its former splendour.3as little as £5/3 months/10 feet etc used to emphasize how surprisingly small an amount is: Prices for his paintings start from as little as £100. The weather can change completely in as little as half an hour.4what little (also the little (that)) used to emphasize how small an amount there is, how small an amount is possible etc: We did what little we could to help. I handed over what little money I had left.5a little (of something) goes a long way spoken used to say that only a small amount of something is needed or has a great effect: A little kindness goes a long way.GRAMMAR: Comparisona little• A little means ‘some, but not a lot’.• You use a little before uncountable nouns: · We still have a little time left.• You can say a little of the: · A little of the milk got spilled. ✗Don’t say: A little of milk got spilled.little• Little is mainly used in more formal English. It means ‘not much’ and emphasizes how small an amount is.• You use little before uncountable nouns: · There is little chance of success.• You can say very little: · He has very little money.• In everyday English, people usually say not much instead: · There is not much chance of success.· He does not have much money.little1 adjectivelittle2 determiner, pronounlittle3 adverb
littlelittle3 ●●● S1 W1 adverb EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The pattern of life here has changed little since I was a boy.
- Harrison felt little inclined to confide in Berthoud.
- The 4. 3 cents were little noticed when they were added, and will be little noticed if removed.
Longman Language Activatora small amount of a substance
· This glue's really strong - you only need to use a little.a little water/money/time etc · A little make-up would make her look so much more attractive.· The garden could do with a little rain.· Try putting a little oil on the hinge and see if it stops squeaking.a little more/less · If we all used a little less paper, we'd probably save a forest or two.a little of (=a small amount of a specific substance) · A little of the grease got on my skirt.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount of something: · You shouldn't have given me so much toothpaste - I only needed a little bit.a little bit of: · A bit of detergent should get that stain out of your collar.· Save a little bit of the paint to do the trim.
only a small amount of something - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much paper is there in the printer?" "Not much."not much water/money/time etc: · There's not much light in this room, is there?· It was very cold, but there wasn't much snow on the ground.not very much: · That's not very much paint if you're planning to paint the whole bedroom.not much of (=a small part of a specific substance): · You can use my shampoo but there's not much of it left.
use this especially when it is a measured amount: · Squeeze a small amount onto the palm of your hand and spread the gel evenly through your hair.a small amount of: · Stir-fry the vegetables in a small amount of oil.· Even a small amount of the drug can be detected in the test.· Small amounts of radiation were found on their clothing.in small amounts: · Fluorine is present in small amounts on Mars.
a small amount of a liquid, flowing out of something: · Because of the drought, the river has become little more than a trickle.trickle of: · There was a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.
a small amount of a liquid, cream, or powder which has been put onto a surface with something such as a brush or with the fingers: · Can I use some of your perfume? I just want to put a dab on my wrist.dab of: · She put a dab of ointment on the cut.· The car just needs a couple of dabs of paint here and there, and it'll be fine.
if something is low in fat, sugar, salt etc, it contains very little fat, sugar etc: low in: · The casserole is low in calories and fat.· These new industrial cleaners are much lower in ammonia and other dangerous chemicals than before.low-fat/-sugar/-cholesterol etc: · He's been on a low-cholesterol diet since his heart attack.low fat/sugar/cholesterol etc content: · Non-dairy toppings tend to have lower fat content than whipping cream.
a very small amount of a substance a very small amount, usually so that there is not enough to be useful, to be important etc: · There was no ink in the bottle and very little left in the pen.very little water/money/time etc: · Fish contains very little fat.· The area has a lot of deer, but very little water and not much open space.
/scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · Don't forget to order some more paper for the copy machine - there's barely any left.hardly any water/money/time etc: · The ferns manage to grow with scarcely any sunlight.· He was fifty years old and his hair still had hardly any gray in it.
such a small amount that you can hardly see it, use it etc: almost no water/money/time: · Potatoes have almost no fat, but they're very filling.· He had a longish, plain face with a straight nose and almost no hair.almost none: · "How much glue is left?" "Almost none."almost none of something: · By the time the dentist had finished almost none of the existing tooth remained.
if there is no rain, food, oil, etc to speak of , there is almost none and not enough to have any effect: · There had been no rain to speak of for ten weeks and the garden was dying.none to speak of: · There's no fuel oil left - none to speak of, anyway.
an amount so small that it is very difficult to see: · She had very little grey hair, with just a trace near the temples.trace of: · Police found traces of blood on the killer's shoes.· Tests have revealed traces of poison in his food.
a small amount of food or drink · "Would you like some more coffee?" "Just a little."a little water/meat/cake etc · The next day Mark felt well enough to eat a little solid food.· Would you like a little ice cream with your pie?a little of (=a small amount of a specific food, drink etc) · I think I'll try a little of the casserole.a little more/less · If I were you I'd use a little less salt next time.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount: · "Can I serve you some soup?" "Alright, but just a little bit."a little bit of: · He only ate a little bit of dinner and then went straight to bed.· Would you like a bit of bacon with your eggs?· We still have a little bit of cheese left, if you want it.a (little) bit more/less: · Can I have a bit more red wine, please?
only a little - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much cake do you want?" "Not much, I'm on a diet."not much water/meat/cake etc: · There's not much wine left, but I think we can each have a glass.not much to eat/drink: · We need to do some shopping - there isn't much to eat at home.not very much: · You haven't eaten very much. Do you feel okay?
a very small amount, usually so small that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful etc: · We drink only occasionally, and even then very little.very little water/meat/cake etc: · The soup is made with lots of vegetables but very little chicken.very little of: · He ate very little of the food we had given him.
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · I thought you liked my lasagne, but you've eaten hardly any.hardly any water/meat/cake etc: · There's barely any sugar in these cookies at all.· Since his heart attack he's eaten scarcely any red meat.
informal a small amount of something that you drink: · "Do you take cream in your coffee?" "Yes, just a drop, please."drop of: · Would you like a drop of soda in your whisky?· He hasn't had a drop of alcohol in 20 years.
a small amount of a powder such as salt, flour etc which you can hold between your thumb and first finger: pinch of: · Add a pinch of salt and half a cup of breadcrumbs.· The stew normally tastes better with a pinch or two of dried herbs.
a very small amount of a liquid which is added to a drink or to food, usually in order to give it a stronger taste: dash of: · It's just vodka with orange juice and a dash of lime juice.· The secret of this sauce is a couple of dashes of brandy added just at the end.
a small amount of money · Most people will give a little to charity if they are asked.a little money/cash · I have a little cash with me, but not enough to pay for both of us.a little extra · He earns a little extra by working on weekends.a little over/under (=a little more or less than an amount of money) · The car costs a little over $20,000.a little more/less · A private room costs a little more, but it's worth it.
there is only a small amount of money, especially when you expect or need more: · After paying rent he doesn't have much left to buy food and pay bills.not much money/cash: · Pete didn't get much money when he sold his car.not very much: · I don't think he earns very much working at the bank.
a very small amount of money, so that there is not enough to have an effect: · He spends very little on food.· Considering they work so hard they're paid very little.very little money/cash: · When Maria lost her job she had very little money in savings.
if the amount that something costs is next to nothing , it is extremely cheap: · It costs next to nothing to go to an afternoon movie.· The company's profits climbed from next to nothing to $6 million in just two years.
a nominal sum, charge, or payment is very small, because what is important is that something is paid, even if it is much less than would usually be paid: · We are allowed to use the tennis courts for a nominal fee.a nominal £1/$5 etc: · Tickets for the concert are a nominal $3 for students.
an amount of money that is negligible is so small that it has no effect or is so small that it is not worth worrying about: · The cost of maintaining the machine is negligible.· Expenses for maintaining the investment fund are negligible - just half a percentage point of profit.
British /a drop in the bucket American informal an amount is a drop in the ocean or a drop in the bucket when it seems very small compared with what is really needed: · The United States pledge of $100 million to the rainforest fund is a drop in the ocean.· Third World debt is so massive that recent pledges to reduce it are just a drop in the bucket.
too little money: paltry sum/amount/pay/value etc such a small amount, sum etc that it is insulting to the people it is paid to: · Club owners in Kansas City paid paltry wages to jazz musicians but gave them steady work.· Last year workers were offered a paltry raise of only one percent.a paltry £1/$5 etc: · Many of the workers in the factory received a paltry $2 a day.
formal, especially written a derisory amount of money that you are offered or paid is so small that it is not worth considering seriously: · Government increases in health expenditure are derisory.a derisory £10/$100/10% etc: · The company's profits increased 35%, but they've only offered a derisory 2.5% pay increase.
an extremely small amount of money, especially when you think the people who are being paid it are being treated unfairly: · They expect their staff to work hard, but the wages they pay are a pittance.a mere/absolute pittance: · In the poorest parts of the country, children work 12-hour days for a mere pittance.
informal a surprisingly small amount of money - use this when you are comparing two prices or amounts: · The workers get paid peanuts.· He's got so much money, $500 is just peanuts to him.
a small amount of something such as a feeling etc · "Do you speak French?" "Just a little."a little trouble/patience/help etc · We had a little difficulty finding the place but we got there in the end.· You might need a little help getting started, but after that you should be fine.a little of · I can understand a little of the frustration he must be feeling.a little more/less · With a little more creativity they could have made the house look really nice.
also a bit especially British informal a little: · By now she was resisting him only a little bit.a little bit of: · We had a little bit of trouble reading his handwriting.· He brings a bit of experience and a lot of enthusiasm to the job.a (little) bit more/less: · I think a bit more discipline is needed with these children.
only a little: · Not much is known about her childhood.not much trouble/patience/help etc: · He doesn't have much experience of running a business.· It was clear that not much thought had been put into the plan.not very much: · We didn't have very much understanding of the problem then.
a little of something: · There is a small amount of truth to what he says.· Big improvements can be made with only a small amount of training and effort.
if there is an element of some quality such as truth, danger, or violence in something, there is a small amount of it, but enough to be noticed: · There is always an element of risk in mountain climbing.· She tried to maintain an element of mystery in her relationships.· Despite the agreement between the two countries, an element of uncertainty about the future remains.
: a taste of power/happiness/fame etc a short experience that shows you what it is like to have power, fame, happiness etc: · Alvin had had a brief taste of freedom and didn't want to live with his parents again.· She decided to become an actress after getting her first taste of fame in a local theatre production.
a very small amount of something such as a feeling, quality etc a very small amount, so that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc: · "How much do you know about computers?" "Very little, I'm afraid."very little trouble/patience/help etc: · I had very little energy left.· Changing the law will make very little difference.· It makes very little sense for companies to maintain large inventories these days.
such a small amount that you can hardly notice it: almost no trouble/patience/help etc: · Scientists have paid almost no attention to the new theory.· She supports the bill although she admits it has almost no chance of being passed.· The birth control campaign was begun 10 years ago but has had almost no impact in the rural areas.almost none: · "What progress have you made on your research project?" "Almost none."
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving, but I felt hardly any at all.hardly any trouble/patience/help etc: · They closed down the whole department with barely any notice to the staff.· Mark is so lazy, he makes scarcely any effort to improve his work.
a very small amount of something, that you almost do not notice: · "Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation in her voice.· For the first time a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.· After speaking to her for awhile, he began to detect a trace of a Southern accent.
formal a small amount, especially when you expect more: little trouble/patience/help etc: · Little progress was made during the negotiations.· The report offers little hope that the economy will improve any time soon.· There seems to be little chance of him coming home for Christmas.
a minimal amount of something is the smallest that is possible, so that it is not worth thinking or worrying about: · The new operating technique involves minimal risk to patients.· The impact of the sale on current employees should be minimal.· The crew had very little experience and were given minimal safety training.
a negligible amount of something is so small that it has almost no effect at all: · The damage done to his property was negligible.· Economists say raising the minimum wage would have a negligible effect on employment rates.· The chances of a healthy adult contracting the disease are negligible.
if you know, learn, say, hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know, learn etc very little about it: · I learned next to nothing at school - the teachers were awful.· My parents know next to nothing about the men I date.
when something or someone moves or changes a little · His work has improved a little since he began the special classes.· Gas prices have fallen a little, but they are still much higher than last year.· I could see that Mrs Ewing's hand was trembling a little.
also a bit British informal a little: · Do you mind if I open the window a little bit.· The centre of the town had changed a bit, but everything else was just as I remember it.· Isn't that house leaning a little bit to the right?
a little, but not enough to be important or easy to notice: · The temperature had risen slightly, but it was still very cold.· He stood for a moment, his body swaying slightly.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · Things haven't changed much over the past few years.· I added more memory to my computer, but its performance didn't improve much.
a little tired/sad/older/bigger etc · I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'll go upstairs and have a rest.· When you're a little older, you'll understand why I'm doing this.· "Do you feel sad that you're leaving?" "Just a little."
also a (tiny) bit British informal a little: · I think David was a bit disappointed I forgot his birthday.· I'm a little bit cold. Do you mind if I turn up the heat?· Aren't you a bit young to be going to nightclubs?· I tried on the dress but it was just a tiny bit small.
a little, but not enough to be important or to notice: · Florida has a slightly larger population than Illinois.· Sean's car is a slightly different colour.· Lynn's daughter is only slightly older than mine.
only a little and not as much as you might have expected: · We should be there soon. It's not much further.· His son's not much younger than I am.not much good: · I'm not much good at explaining things.
only a little or not at all: · The house isn't very old. It was built in the 1990s.· I still go running, but not very often.· "Was the bike expensive?" "Not very."· The President was not very happy that the information had been leaked to the press.
to not realize what is happening · "It's my birthday today." "Oh, I didn't realize. I should have bought you a card."not know/not realize/have no idea (that) · I wish I'd brought my coat. I didn't know it would be so cold.· We didn't realize that he had quit, until he didn't show up at work that day.not know/not realize/have no idea what/how/where etc · My wife and I had no idea how much we would depend upon Social Security in the future.
formal to not know about a situation or about something that is happening, especially when you should know about it: be unaware/not be aware of: · The child was clearly unaware of the danger.· If any bad feelings existed between the two of them, I was not aware of it.be unaware/not be aware that: · His parents weren't even aware that he smoked.
formal to know nothing about a subject or situation because you have not experienced it, read about it, or heard about it: · The general public has little or no knowledge of what is happening inside prisons.· The State Department said it had no knowledge of any threats to U.S. security.
also unbeknownst to somebody use this about something that was happening without you knowing about it at the time: · Unbeknown to me, Denise had her own plan.· Unbeknownst to the public, he was involved in covering up the scandal that was to rock the nation.
use this when you did not know or imagine that something was true or would happen: little did I/she/he etc know that: · Little did she know that this picture would one day be worth more than a million dollars.· Little did I know then that I would be working in Los Angeles 35 years later.
spoken say this when you know almost nothing about a situation and to suggest something that might have happened or be true, especially something unlikely: · They may have gone to South America, for all we know.· You shouldn't have accepted a ride from him. For all you knew he might have been a mass murderer.
if you are unconscious of the effect of something that you have said or done, you do not realize how it affects other people: · She appeared to be unconscious of the amusement she had caused by her remarks.· Like many tourists they were unconscious of the fact that they had deeply offended their hosts.
someone who is oblivious to what is happening around them does not notice it and continues to do other things without being affected by it: oblivious of: · They soon fell asleep, oblivious of the danger.oblivious to: · The walkers in front crossed the ledge easily, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was a 3000 foot drop on either side.· In the sitcom she plays a New York executive who's totally oblivious to the feelings of others.
something that people know nothing or very little about · After they left Kathmandu they would be travelling through unknown territory.· There are still a great many unknown insect species in the world.· Yesterday the village was quite unknown, but today it's on the front page of all the newspapers.
a place or an experience that people have not been in before and that they are therefore often nervous about: · In 1492 Columbus and his group of tiny ships set off into the unknown.· Starting a new relationship with someone is always a journey into the unknown.fear of the unknown: · The fear of the unknown prevents many people from making significant changes in their lives.
relating to places that have not been put on a map yet, or to situations that have not yet been experienced: · Space is filled with unknown stars and uncharted galaxies.uncharted territory: · When Indian politicians established mass democracy in 1947, they knew they were entering uncharted territory.
if something is unidentified , people do not know what it is, what its name is, or who it belongs to - used especially in newspapers or in official reports: · A large unidentified object was spotted floating in the sea near our ship.· Two unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Consulate van.· The body remained unidentified until the police checked dental records.
a little known place or thing is one that not many people know about: · He was born on a little known island off the south coast of Spain.· The kakapo is a little known species of parrot that lives in New Zealand.
a person or place that not many people know or know about · The picture was painted in the 15th Century by an unknown Italian artist.· Until their first single, the Beatles were virtually unknown outside Hamburg and Liverpool.unknown to · The Internet has opened up a marketplace where sellers and buyers are virtually unknown to each other.
a little known artist, film etc is one that very few people know about: · A little-known separatist group claimed responsibility for the explosion.· Bernardo Vittone is little known outside his native Italy.
not at all well-known and usually not very important: · Picasso's first exhibition received only a short mention in an obscure Parisian newspaper.· The Silver Apples are one of those obscure bands that you might hear about, but never actually hear.
written a mysterious person that people know very little about, especially someone who seems dangerous: · Vogel, a high-ranking official in East Berlin, was one of the Cold War's most shadowy figures.
someone that very little is known about, especially in relation to their abilities, so that you do not know if they will be successful: · The team's new pitcher has never played pro baseball before and is something of an unknown quantity.
happening or changing slowly · She's making a slow recovery after her illness.· Rebuilding the country's economy is likely to be a long, slow process.· For the first few months that I was taking lessons, my progress was extremely slow.
· The situation is slowly improving.· Slowly prices began to fall.· Their relationship has developed slowly, but they now consider each other close friends.
slowly over a period of time: · The climate is gradually becoming drier and warmer.· As the weeks passed, I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.· Most patients gradually develop a resistance to the drug.
happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · I had noticed a gradual improvement in her written work.· The chart showed a gradual rise in his temperature over the previous eight hours.· Because the cell destruction is gradual, a victim's pancreas can function normally for years.
happening or done slowly in a series of small amounts or stages - use this especially about something that is gradually improving: · Little by little, Greg's health improved.· Bit by bit, the dogs got used to their new surroundings.· Then add the olive oil, little by little, beating continuously until the sauce thickens.
if something, especially an improvement in something, happens slowly but surely , it happens slowly and steadily until it is completed: · Slowly but surely, the company is becoming successful again.· She's getting better, slowly but surely.
happening, developing, or changing very slowly, through a series of small changes that may be difficult to notice: · By degrees, little children grow less dependent on their parents.· The storm intensified by degrees until the rain was pouring down.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY We’ll have to wait a little longer to see what happens. The situation has improved very little. His voice was little more than a whisper.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead. Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is. What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime. You could at least say that you’re sorry. you and your dirty little deals It’s got lots of useful little extras. I enjoyed it far more than I expected. We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement. Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do. She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid. There was very little likelihood of her getting the job. He was a lovely little boy. I don’t think it matters much what you study. Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches? There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired. You’re a nasty little brute! The journey took longer than normal. We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). a puny little guy a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally! She was just short of six feet tall. The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so. a tiny little baby Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding.
We’ll have to wait a little longer to see what happens. The situation has improved very little. (=not known about by many people) a little known corner of the world
a little known corner of the world His voice was little more than a whisper. Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds. I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. Tom got a letter from him just a little while ago. The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead.· He had no alternative but to resign.
Aren’t you being a little bit unfair? Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement. Can we have a bit less noise, please? They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought. I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.· The floor was covered in tiny bits of glass.
What a polite little boy (=young male child) you are. How old is your little boy (=young son)? (also a kid brother American English) (=younger brother)· My kid brother was always annoying me.
· The prisoners knew there was little chance of escape.
· Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.
· The neon sign made little clicks as it changed colour.
· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.
The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime.· He lived all his life in a small cottage by the river.
You could at least say that you’re sorry.· tiny creatures such as mice
· By then the president had ceased to have any credibility.
· The child gave a small cry and burst into tears.
(=not much detail)· Maps of the area showed little detail.
you and your dirty little deals· I have no doubt that you are right.
(=make people sure or almost sure about something)· The evidence left no doubt that he was the murderer.
(=used to talk about how sure people are about something)· There is little doubt that he will play for England one day.
(=not have enough food)· The refugees had very little to eat and no clean water.
· Tom looked slightly embarrassed when his name was called out.
(=not much enthusiasm)· In the nearby villages, there’s little enthusiasm for the airport.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
It’s got lots of useful little extras.· It is a little-known fact that the actor was born in London.
I enjoyed it far more than I expected.· Can you do me a small favour?
We all have our little foibles. We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers. Her headaches are becoming less frequent. I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.
Many church services hold little appeal for modern tastes. Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement.· Where the money came from is of no importance.
Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.· Poor farmers have little incentive to grow crops for export.
· It’s a small island, barely twenty miles long.
She’d always loved animals since she was a little kid.· She put her arms around him and gave him a big kiss.
· He let out a nervous little laugh.
There was very little likelihood of her getting the job.· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
He was a lovely little boy.· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
I don’t think it matters much what you study. (=think that something is not a good idea)· I can see no merit in violence.
· The essay was full of little mistakes.
(=one that is not serious)· We need to clear up this little misunderstanding.
Can I have a little more time to finish? Are there any more sandwiches?· She made a restless little movement.
There was too much work for one person. It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired.· It was a minor mystery how the file had survived the fire.
(=it is something that you will never understand – used humorously)· Where socks disappear to after they’ve been washed is one of life’s little mysteries.
· A short nap may make you feel better.
You’re a nasty little brute!· I was a little nervous before the interview.
informal:· I feel as if I've found my little niche in life.
The journey took longer than normal. (=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
(=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.
(=have a possibility that things might get better)· There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.
(=have no other choice than to do something)· I had no option but to fire him.
We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it. (also a bit overweight)· He was tall and slightly overweight.· He’s a bit overweight, not too much.
· I'm afraid I have little patience with bureaucrats and their official rules.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him).· Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
a puny little guy (=not enough regard)· He drove himself on, with little regard for his own health.
· The allegations bore no relationship to the facts.
· He bore little resemblance to the photograph in the newspaper.
· He decided to stop and take a short rest.
· They have to work very hard for very little reward.
a rotten little brat The workers had no say in how the factory was run. You rude little scally!· I was always a little scared of my father.
· Mrs Wood gave a little scream.
(=a personal secret that very few people know)· You must promise me that this will be our little secret.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London. She was just short of six feet tall.· Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
· This information on its own is of little significance.
(=a younger sister)· She was very fond of her little sister.
· I always have a little sleep in the afternoon.
· She gave him an apologetic little smile.
The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.· Attempts to resolve the dispute met with little success.
· He was a little surprised by her request.
· I’m glad we’ve had this little talk.
a tiny little baby· a pretty little town in the French Alps
(also a bit unfair British English spoken)· You’re being slightly unfair on him.
· The information was of little value.
· They come from a small village in Laos.
· I just felt like a little walk.
Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be. Wait a little while before deciding. (also a bit worried British English)· I was a bit worried about my exams.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· It appears that for acute health problems older people are little different, in terms of prevalence, from younger age groups.· In fact, the gene-altered products often seem little different from ordinary varieties when lined up on store shelves.· The provincial groups with papers in two or three towns were little different from the other independents.· The outcome this time was little different.· Finances at the end of 1913 were little different from 1912.· For many residents of the oil fields, Pemex executives seem little different from the foreign overlords they replaced.· This was little different from the responses provided by younger age groups.· General Zionists favored a free-market democracy, little different from London or New York.
· But there is little direct connection.· Outdoors Wisconsin clearly has little direct effect on anyone but the suckers.· There was, until recently, little direct information on the requirements of the textile industry.· There was little direct discussion of the reengineering effort except as a trigger for the explosion.· The public hospitals are managed by the states, and the federal government has very little direct say in them.· Mechanisation itself has, apart from the habitat changes it has induced, had little direct effect on birds in Sussex.· With the Sun Icing himself he had little direct relationship.· There is little direct connection, because many early ecologists were not interested in evolution.
· This method of analysis does not always work, and sometimes interpretation of such sites is little better than guesswork.· By that time it did me little good.· In comparison, she herself would look little better than a sack of potatoes on horseback.· At times the road is little better than a forestry track.· Professional footballers fared little better than cricketers and were less likely to be able to pursue their occupation for as long.· Separating sheep from goats within a school was little better than separating them into different schools.· The seed was defective and the resulting crop was little better than useless.· This seems to explain the early prints showing people travelling in what were little better than cattle trucks.
· As a result, little real automation is taking place.· They have little real batting strength and their pitching is almost nil.· Indeed, even in 1991 there is little real evidence of such planning by governments and industry.· He points to cultures, such as Samoa, where Margaret Mead found that there was little real adolescence.· An upper house was created, but its powers were limited, and the President had little real power.· Existing smaller powers that were supposedly independent had little real power.· The election produced little real change in the relative strength of the other three main parties.· Murder and crowd violence there was, although we have little real information about it.
· It is little short of tragic that she has been cut off, while still at the peak of her singing power.· The city hopes to attract around 3.5 million visitors annually, but last year's figures were little short of disastrous.· The choice of organised leisure pursuits is little short of staggering.· Yet in recent weeks the atmosphere at the ministry's forest-products division has been little short of electric.· After all the speculation about the possible disagreements between them, their encounter has been little short of anodyne.· But assisting her investigations into a perfectly natural death as if it were murder was little short of lunacy.· It is little short of a national disgrace that allocations are still being made using such a crude approach.· To get in on a scholarship means passing little short of brilliantly.
· This method of analysis does not always work, and sometimes interpretation of such sites is little better than guesswork.· At times the road is little better than a forestry track.· Professional footballers fared little better than cricketers and were less likely to be able to pursue their occupation for as long.· Separating sheep from goats within a school was little better than separating them into different schools.· The seed was defective and the resulting crop was little better than useless.· This seems to explain the early prints showing people travelling in what were little better than cattle trucks.· A fox liked its lair - and this place was little better.· Showing the insignia of Neutral deities cuts no ice with Thadeus - such gods are little better than the Proscribed Ones.
VERB· Later that day she had been forced to catnap at her desk, having achieved little else of consequence there.· It happens with only a handful of Members in their places and achieves little, if any, coverage by the media.· He achieved little in his work and dissipated much of his time in an uncongenial student fraternity.· Without their support and the ideas from the area the Teams can achieve little.· The president's unilateral reforms will achieve little if he does not talk to blacks.· Thus, in the key area of economic policy, despite an occasional victory, Carter achieved little.· He has achieved little since November besides getting to know the gadgets in the presidential motor cars.· Payment could be enforced only by the courts, and would achieve little when poor husbands could not afford to pay.
· And it's changed little over the centuries.· Sterling was little changed against the deutsche mark at 2. 2323 marks compared with 2. 2324 at the previous close.· This maldistribution of income had changed little by 1900.· In other respects the book has changed little and there is no attempt to deal with organic synthesis in its own right.· Motorola was little changed in active trading.· Salisbury Plain had changed little since Blake's day.· We lay under arms all day and made but little change in our position.
· They knew little about computers and had bought the discs from another counterfeiter who's yet to be caught.· One of the great truths of Washington life little known by the folks back home is the power of congressional staff members.· Lloyd George was not a person who knew little about clergymen.· She had lived in Darrowby for several years but the townsfolk knew little about her.· She little knowing that the man she holds in her arms!· Our Czech hosts knew little about it, save that the approach was long and the descent intricate.· He really knew little about Jamila.
· It matters little that consumers are still cautious.· On Andean haciendas, it matters little to the man who tills the land whether the product increases.· He didn't often actually handle a painting, but that mattered little to him.· It matters little, the loss is mine.· That the subject was in fact normally accorded Cinderella status mattered little to the many who objected to its being there at all.· To neo-Keynesians it matters little what local authorities spend on revenue account.· What might happen when eventually they arrived at Wrens' Quarters, Ardneavie, mattered little.· In this instance it mattered little.
· But since the mare has won five of her last six races, that probably means little to trainer Mary Reveley.· But in truth they mean little.· For political freedom will mean little it if is not underpinned by economic freedom as well.· The average figure means little in this case, however.· But it means little now, for the mountain is in motion, and slide it must.· But, of course, such slight diagnostic indications mean little unless a theory is to hand which can explain their crucial importance.· Probably life without Laura meant little to him anyway.
· He made friends easily and after his wife died there seemed little to keep him tied to his home area.· In fact, the gene-altered products often seem little different from ordinary varieties when lined up on store shelves.· With no room for a fiscal stimulus in most countries, there seems little they can do to boost output and jobs.· For many residents of the oil fields, Pemex executives seem little different from the foreign overlords they replaced.· And finally, there are the ones that seem little more than a cue for a really good cackle.· But the idea of true integration - that is, a normal university post - new seems little more than a pipedream.· And victory never looked in doubt as he dominated throughout, making the fences seem little more than matchsticks.· What it brings back seems little, in terms of hope at least.
· The frescoes allow more scope, but even they show little more than one event at a time.· Official records show little except the names of Sterling Trust's directors.· He still showed little emotional reaction though he was evidently angry with himself for letting his natural arrogance be so easily quashed.· Many attempts to evaluate its effectiveness have shown little or no benefit, possibly due to methodological problems.· The West had shown little liking for this.· For lack of space these have previously been little shown to the public.· Both turbine options were in close formation in the static at Farnborough and a superficial look would show little between them.
· The reason, quite simply, is that pruning is little understood - again that word why.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► a little► more than a little/not a littlePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► good 'un/bad 'un/little 'un etc► a little bird told me (something)► somebody couldn’t care less► twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little finger► a big fish in a little/small pond► funny little something► more haste less speed► have/hold something in your hot little hand► well-known/little-known/lesser-known► it’s (a little/bit) late in the day (to do something)► the little people► the more ..., the more/the less ...► the more ..., the more/the less ...► black/elegant etc (little) number► some little/few something► (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that)► in a world of your own/in your own little world
1a little slightly or to a small degree SYN a bit: - But little did he know at the time, how soon he'd need it.
- Little by little I became more fluent in German.
- Bingo broke me in and taught me the ropes, and little by little I became his boy.
- But little by little he would piece it all together.
- But time went on, and little by little I realized that this was not going to happen.
- I run my fingers over this invisible object, and little by little curiosity gets the better of me.
- Then little by little words are exchanged.
- Then, little by little, step by step, their dreams grow with the size of their business.
- These things, therefore, became little by little private property.
- This proved difficult and Josef Vissarionovich had to be blown up little by little over a period of two weeks.
- Gelbspan's speech was of no account.
- As she grew up, her father had been of no account to her.
- Charles Coffin continues: The cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had been of little account.
- Epictetus' magic wand can make poverty of no account.
- In a transforming instant, the est intellectual truth is seen to be that intellectual truth is of no account.
- It was of no account to Vinoba Bhave a Brahmin, whether the man before him was a Brahmin or an outcaste.
- There was a war on and such emotional family matters were really of no account.
- Yet this self-protective brand of public service was of no account to the Lordly Phantasms.
- You are a mere picture editor, a workman, whose views on editorial staff are of no account.
- Both make-ups can be available at the same time and, so far as value goes, there is nothing to choose between them.
- But there is little to choose between the two in terms of overall performance.
- Choosing the gender of your baby is an individual decision of no consequence to anybody else.
- During the bad weather we experienced a few disasters and events, but they were of little consequence.
- It clearly ranks as the first written literature of any consequence.
- Neither country had other exports of any consequence.
- No signal can be received outside that range but this is of no consequence.
- They were of no consequence, I knew they were of no consequence.
- A true old devil, Manson vanishes in a puff of smoke.
- I really miss the old devil.
- Impotent old devils and dried-up hags always deride the efforts of the young.
- Indeed, I worship the little devil, but only as a travelling companion.
- Not that he's the worst of them, poor old devil.
- So much, thought Blanche, for flirting with the lascivious old devil.
- There was one old devil with red eyes.
- Bethlehem will always be a nice little earner.
- However worthy his motives, the good doctor is on a nice little earner.
- It has become, let's face it, a nice little earner.
- Some of the nurses found it a nice little earner on top of their poor weekly pay.
- That would be a nice little earner for us.
- With an eye for a nice little earner, Del Trotter dictated his letter of application to chief sports writer Roy Collins.
- The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
- Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
- He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
- His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
- In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
- It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
- Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
- The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
- All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
- All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
- All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
- Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
- Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
- In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
- They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
- With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
- And that little horror Zach was around.
- His creation left nothing to the imagination.
- Plastics - that here leave little to the imagination - were widely used in fashion.
- Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
- Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
- And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
- Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
- And last but not least, the baby of the family.
- And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
- And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
- And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
- And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
- She was madam, all right, a proper little madam.
- But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
- His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
- On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
- Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
- There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
- There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
- This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
- What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
- Educators, meanwhile, often view business with more than a little suspicion, distrust, and envy.
- Gordon was, he admitted, more than a little relieved.
- He was more than a little disappointed that his son was not athletic.
- It may be no more than a little park near work or a church that you stop by during lunch hour.
- Love: the word would be utterly meaningless in this context; no more than a little blast of sound.
- Many of these ideas depend more than a little on what you believe in.
- The ex-boyfriend is more than a little interested.
- "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
- There were 50 people there, more or less.
- This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
- What she says is more or less true.
- Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
- And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
- As things are, it's more or less useless.
- Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
- Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
- Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
- The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
- This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
- A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
- And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
- However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
- Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
- Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
- She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
- This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
- I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
- Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
- Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
- I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
- In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
- Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
- That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
- The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
- Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
- Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
- They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
- But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
- He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
- In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
- It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
- Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
- Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
- The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
- The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
- As Jack goes on hunting, the little ones look at him as an expert.
- Bowel frequency, for example, was little greater in the older patients than in the younger ones.
- Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
- Helping with academic or social tasks, the older children develop a sense of responsibility for the younger ones in the building.
- Mr Preston had recently cleared out his old trees and planted new young ones.
- Older respondents tend to state their replies in honorifics; younger ones are less reverential.
- The older kids were at school and two of the women had taken the younger ones to the park.
- They were thinking of wives and little ones far away, and wondering if they would ever see them again.
- There are precious few seats inside the court room.
- At the moment there is precious little.
- Eight voices then, and precious little else.
- Food shopping takes time, a commodity of which most of us have precious little.
- From which it follows that many will choose precious little attachment.
- I had no answers and precious little consolation to offer him to mitigate the facts.
- Once the polarization occurs, there is precious little Mrs Clinton can do about it.
- She had to find some other way to save Angel's precious little life, and find it quickly.
- There was precious little to learn.
- The hotel has little except price to recommend it.
- An alternative approach-optical fibre - has much to recommend it.
- As such, it has much to recommend it.
- But in terms of an effective solution the voting method has little to recommend it.
- In principle this format has much to recommend it, but in this case the practice has not been successful.
- It is plain that, in the long run, the gentle art of compromise has much to recommend it.
- Nevertheless, the principle of chisel ploughing has much to recommend it in the right conditions.
- Such a way of proceeding has much to recommend it, but scant progress has been made in that direction.
- This cooperative family decision-making has much to recommend it.
- If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
- Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
- Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
- The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
- Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
- When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
- As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
- Cartoonish, to say the least.
- It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
- The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
- The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
- The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
- There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
- Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
- First, I would strongly advise other CEOs to follow our experience because the results stood to be nothing short of spectacular.
- It is little short of tragic that she has been cut off, while still at the peak of her singing power.
- The 18 tracks of the new record are so dizzyingly dexterous, the live show should be nothing short of amazing.
- The city hopes to attract around 3.5 million visitors annually, but last year's figures were little short of disastrous.
- The quality of sound via these outputs is nothing short of amazing.
- The result is nothing short of brilliant and has met with raves in all the glossy industry mags.
- This is nothing short of a scandal.
- What they envision is nothing short of a new corporate structure, in which accounting and other functions are outsourced.
- Before that, and this should tell you a little something, it was not much more attractive for Stanford.
- Can yet give us a little something now, Morreen.
- Let me just tell you a little something!
- Mrs Fanning also stood up and said she could stand to leave behind a little something.
- Pawlowski knows a little something about horsepower.
- So I thought, a little push, a little shove, a little something extra to shake it loose.
- This time aliens stop by for a visit and leave a little something, um, behind.
- Well, I ate a little something in my room earlier.
- A 3 percent funding increase is too little, too late to save the tutoring program.
She trembled a little as she spoke. He was a little surprised at her request.a little more/better/further etc We’ll have to wait a little longer to see what happens.2not much or only slightly: The town has changed little over the years. The situation has improved very little.little known/understood etc (=not known about by many people) a little known corner of the worldlittle more/better etc (than something) His voice was little more than a whisper.3little did somebody know/realize/think etc used to say that someone did not know or think that something would happen or was true: Little did I know that the course of my life was about to change.4little by little gradually: Little by little he became accepted by the family.5more than a little/not a little literary extremely: Graham was more than a little frightened by what he had seen.GRAMMAR: Word orderYou use a little before an adjective: · I was a little worried about her. ✗Don’t say: I was worried a little about her.