slight1 adjectiveslight2 verb
slightslight1 /slaɪt/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective (comparative slighter, superlative slightest) 
WORD ORIGINslight1
Origin:
1300-1400 Probably from Middle Dutch slichtEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a slight headache
- a small, slight child with delicate-looking features
- He was slight and frail, even as a young man.
- He was a good friend - always available to help at the slightest sign of need.
- Officials reported a slight increase in inflation.
- The doctor says there has been a slight improvement in her condition.
- There has been a slight change of plan.
- Tom? I haven't the slightest idea where he is.
- US foreign policy at the time hadn't made the slightest difference in the situation.
- Yoshida is a slight, quiet man with a grey beard.
- But there was only a slight, impatient nodding.
- Do not spend your life taking over-the-counter medication for the slightest ache or pain.
- Dove stood by, ready to bolt for the lifeboat at the slightest glance from Jenkins.
- He felt a slight tickling as his old skin blistered.
- In those turbulent times that produce skips, however, a slight degradation will be close to unnoticeable.
- The only slight justification for Batty going I can see, I realised last night.
- Throat and neck sensitive to the slightest touch.
- To dread the slightest sneeze or cough that might herald the onset of polio or tuberculosis.
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.
person having little fat on your body: · a tall, thin man
thin in an attractive way: · her slim figure· a slim woman in her fifties· Magazines are always full of advice about how to stay slim.
written thin in an attractive and graceful way – used especially about parts of the body, and used especially about women: · her long, slender legs· She is slender, with very fair hair.
thin and looking healthy and fit: · his lean body· He was lean and looked like a runner.
very thin in a way that is not attractive: · a skinny teenager· Your arms are so skinny!
written thin and delicate: · a small, slight girl with big eyes
very thin, small, and weak-looking: · a scrawny kid in blue jeans
below the usual weight for someone of your height, and therefore too thin: · He had no appetite and remained underweight.
written very thin and pale, especially because of illness or continued worry: · He looked gaunt and had not shaved for days.
written extremely thin and weak, because you are ill or not getting enough to eat: · The tents were filled with emaciated refugees.
written used about someone who is so thin that you can see the shape of their bones: · The soldiers were shocked by the skeletal figures of the camp’s prisoners.
used about someone who is extremely thin because they have a mental illness that makes them stop eating: · Her daughter is anorexic.· anorexic teenagers
Longman Language Activatorsmall and not making much difference to something · I want to make a few small changes to the design.· There is still one small problem that we haven't dealt with.· Government statistics showed a small drop in the annual rate of inflation.
small and not very important or not very noticeable: · There has been a slight change of plan.· The doctor says there has been a slight improvement in her condition.· He was a good friend - always available to help at the slightest sign of need.not the slightest (=none at all): · Tom? I haven't the slightest idea where he is.· US foreign policy at the time hadn't made the slightest difference in the situation.
not important enough or serious enough to worry about: · She fell off her horse, but suffered only minor injuries.· The contract seems fine, except for a few minor details.· With one or two minor changes, the course is the same as last year.
an infinitesimal amount, risk etc is so small that it makes very little difference or is not worth worrying about: · Even an infinitesimal change in temperature will be recorded by the equipment.· I'd say the chances of your catching the disease are infinitesimal.
extremely small: · I've made one or two tiny alterations, but otherwise the house is the same as when I bought it.· There's been a tiny decrease in the number of people out of work.
a change or difference that is minute is so small that it is difficult to see it or notice any effects resulting from it: · The equipment records minute changes in air pressure.
thin having very little fat on the body: · Larry was tall and thin with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes.· She looked pale, thin, and unhealthy.· I wish my legs were thinner.
thin, delicate, often weak-looking, and usually not very tall: · Yoshida is a slight, quiet man with a grey beard.· a small, slight child with delicate-looking features
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
It just needs a few minor adjustments. The sign leaned over at a slight angle. The usual symptoms are a pink rash with a slight fever. There was a slight hesitation in Jamie’s voice. In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success. Young walked with a slight limp. I had a slight mishap with one of the glasses. Julie has a tendency to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
· He has a very slight accent.
It just needs a few minor adjustments. (=a small one)· Karpov enjoyed a slight advantage over his opponent.
The sign leaned over at a slight angle. (=that changes direction slightly or gradually)· Ahead of us there was a wide bend in the river.
· The curtains lifted in the light breeze.
(=fairly thin)· Simpson was of slight build and shy in character.
· He only has a very small chance of being elected.· There’s a slight chance of some sunshine in the west.
· The proposed changes were relatively minor.
· It’s only a slight cold – I’ll be fine tomorrow.
(=one that is not very serious)· He has a slight cough but I don’t think he’s really ill.
· It’s only a small cut.
· There are one or two minor defects on the car’s paintwork.
· There was a slight delay in the departure of the plane.
· There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird.
· Children who are young in their school year sometimes have a slight disadvantage.
(=no doubt)· There’s not the slightest doubt in my mind about it.
(also a bit of an edge) (=a small advantage)· Running on the inside lane will give him a slight edge.
(=small)· I think that saying the animals are almost extinct is a slight exaggeration.
(=for any reason, however unimportant)· She comes to our house at the slightest excuse.
The usual symptoms are a pink rash with a slight fever. (also a bit of a headache spoken) (=one that is not very serious)· I’d rather stay at home – I’ve got a bit of a headache.
There was a slight hesitation in Jamie’s voice. In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success.· Sales figures have shown a slight improvement this month.
· Doctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.· The temperature increase was quite small.
(=not serious)· She’s suffering from a slight infection.
Young walked with a slight limp. I had a slight mishap with one of the glasses. (=a small modification)· The document needed a few slight modifications.
(=small)· His eye caught a slight movement behind the bushes.
(=not severe)· I’ve got a slight pain in my side.
· "Well, that was a surprise," he said after a brief pause.
Julie has a tendency to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.· A spider’s venom usually causes only a slight reaction.
(=not strong)· Don't you think she has a slight resemblance to that blonde singer in Abba?
(=not very strong)· There was a slight sense of embarrassment.
· There has been only a slight shift in income distribution.
· She gave him an apologetic little smile.
· Daniel never had the slightest suspicion of how she really felt.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Our dignity requires that we struggle in the net, however slight the hope of escape.· Any movement, however slight, could crack the Chevy wide open like an uncooked eggshell.· There are however slight variations, the first being where the independent belongs to a retail buying association.
· She awoke with her body lazily relaxed, only slight soreness to remind her of what had happened the previous night.· It is only slight hyperbole to say that Roy Disney averted a cultural tragedy.· Since the modifications were only slight, data from the piloting stage were included in the final analysis.· Yet you may have a list chock full of interesting points with only slight degrees of greater importance.· Most tour packages and many resorts are reporting they are either holding the line or having only slight increases in price.
· I notice you have been fighting, so maybe your errand was not so slight.· At first his weight was so slight that he had almost to force himself downward by holding on to the handrail.· The differences are therefore in the expected direction but so slight as to be unremarkable.· The whole connection is so slight that the legend only appears in tourist-orientated guide books of the twentieth century.· He was fortunate the punishment was so slight.· He pulled her to her feet, marvelling that so slight a creature could have put up such a fight.· The overhead wires are so slight that you have to look hard to see them.
· Though both had appeared in the press and are very slight pamphlets, they rank as first editions in book form.· Thus, red maple seeds can fly in a very slight breeze, but silver maples need wind.· Often their connection with the place is very slight or even non-existent.· The oral shield is rounded triangular, often with a very slight distal lobe.· There was only a very slight frown on her brow when Fernando went inside to bring out the paella.· The flattening f of Mercury is very slight.· It's like a combination, although it's very slight on the wrist.· Sometimes the difference caused by assimilation is very noticeable, and sometimes it is very slight.
NOUN· His wig was now at a slight angle.· Christabel's tombstone leaned over at a slight angle.· Both chairs are placed securely, with the free chair at a slight angle to where the patient is sitting.· She went about with her head at a slight angle and her eyes permanently narrowed, to avoid the smoke.
· But to all outward appearance she was, let it be said, the slightest bit slatternly.· I say, without feeling the slightest bit cowardly.· Are we in the slightest bit surprised by this hypocrisy from a member of the government?· Whenever there was the slightest bit of gossip in the office, Wilkinson was bound to hear about it.· Not that it would have done the slightest bit of good.· He is, he will tell you without the slightest bit of embarrassment, in love.· Was he just the slightest bit jealous?· In fact, no one will admit to being the slightest bit nervous about the lift.
· He came to his front door to say goodbye, which he did with a handshake and a slight bow.· She made a slight bow and wheeled to the next desk.· They were just three wires joined at the ends, with only the slightest bow to them.
· The curtains were long and gauzy, fluttering in a slight breeze.· A slight breeze rose to cool his scalp, which had been sun-baked, then doused with water until it tingled.· The slightest breeze to carry her love away.· A slight breeze picks up and you see only occasional flashes of distant lightning that still illuminate the whole sky.· It was cool, a slight breeze drifting over her face, calming the heat of her skin.· Thus, red maple seeds can fly in a very slight breeze, but silver maples need wind.· There was a slight breeze that riffled her hair.· All that was left of the original roof was tar-paper strips that lifted in the slightest breeze.
· Thers's a a slight chance of some sunshine in the west, but nothing spectacular.· No eighteenth-century peace plan had the slightest chance of being put into practice.· You aren't going anywhere where there's the slightest chance that you could cause more trouble.· Only the first would Niki have the slightest chance of repaying.· I can not ignore even the slightest chance that she may have survived.
· A slight change of angle and a full wing shape becomes distorted into a thin one.· The manipulated atoms also could be used to detect extremely slight changes in motion.· Embankments can vary considerably in size; many cater for just a slight change in the level of the ground.· Flight control warned air traffic of a slight change.· Sometimes this happens with a fishing style, small improvements, slight changes. but no real leaps forward.· Had not a slight change of wind taken place, the result might have been fatal to most of us.· For me, it was the most teasing of all things, variations on a theme, slight changes.· Although the forms remained basically the same, his past underwent slight changes.
· Even a slight decrease, a sensible diet, will get you the results you want.
· I frequently give into their hands my best guns and never found them in the slightest degree disposed to take advantage.· Yet you may have a list chock full of interesting points with only slight degrees of greater importance.
· In the meantime, the slight delay would allow him to run down his quarry.· The good news is that both are worth the slight delay.· Despite the slight delay the audience gave the band a rousing welcome and were rewarded with two superb sets.· There was a slight delay in the departure of her scheduled plane out of Dulles International.· A slight delay as you skirt round it.· Sometimes it is necessary to wait for an incoming aircraft which might cause a slight delay before you proceed to the resort.
· Nothing he could say now would make the slightest difference.· Just like your language instructor, they can detect the slight differences between certain speech sounds that adults will insist are identical.· I tried closing my eyes; it made not the slightest difference.· Now those slight differences of electrical potential had disappeared, like the chalk dust at the end of the lesson.· Only the music created slight differences and this not markedly because the composers used the best of commonly recognised traditional musical idioms.· They are all slightly different and all the slight differences cancel each other out.· Not that this would have made the slightest difference to the outcome.· All I could do was repeat the injections, but was it going to make the slightest difference?
· There was now not the slightest doubt that Hsu was decaying and losing her structural integrity.· He began to have slight doubts about going back with Eleanor.· Without the slightest doubt this is a remarkable, compelling exhibition.· Without the slightest doubt, there are far fewer gestures in the world than there are individuals.· But after the triumph, I don't have the slightest doubt that women will ensure that their true rights are respected.· Let me assure you, I never had the slightest doubt we would stay in Division Three.
· Now the dim light gave Manville a very slight edge, for he was in cover and his adversaries were not.· Budweiser gets the slight edge here over Pepsi for entertainment value.· The slightest edge of concern had entered her voice now.· Men gave a slight edge to Dole, 44 percent to 43 percent.· Psychologically, in fact, they have a slight edge over their indomitable opponents.· Lose both, and they retain a slight edge.· White's quiet opening may still lead to a slight edge for him if Black permits e4.
· One might with only slight exaggeration claim that firelight illuminates virtually every positive page in Victorian novels.
· On one of the horses was a slight figure, bound and blindfolded.· In a corner of the room was the slight figure of Jay Gould.· Letty knocked and glancing up Emily saw a slight figure with a mass of dark hair following the maid into the room.· Esther's slight figure could be seen coming furtively through the door and into the recess.· A man from a cell ahead of mine, a slight figure, was knocked aside by two more powerful men working together.· The forward screen zoomed in on the slight figure of the target.
· As an Eric Clapton fan, I recommend this double album without the slightest hesitation.· He succeeded and was left with just a slight hesitation in speech.· With only a very slight hesitation she launched into her part.· He had noticed the slight hesitation over the gender of the letter writer.
· The slightest hint of trouble over the weekend brought a massive response from fleets of police cars.· Crisp, without the slightest hint of being greasy, it both crunches and melts in your mouth.· At the slightest hint of sloth, cross them off your list.· The slightest hint of militancy was enough to bar a group from being funded.· She searched his face for just the slightest hint that there might be the chance of some give in his rigidity.· But Gordon answered that one, too, betraying only the slightest hint of impatience.· But that does not breed the slightest hint of complacency as the 31-year-old Ballinascreen clubman prepares for the All Ireland final.· It tasted yeasty, with a slight hint of effervescence, and began almost instantly to produce a slow easing of inhibitions.
· I still haven't the slightest idea.· Without such game rules no society would exist; nor would any individual have the slightest idea how to act.· What we went out there for I haven t the slightest idea.· The auditor now has some slight idea of who the allies may be.· An honest answer seems to be that no one has the slightest idea.· No one in the States has the slightest idea how beautiful it is.· You're the first woman I've ever met who had the slightest idea what travelling light means.· I never have the slightest idea what she's thinking.
· The slight improvements in the eighteenth century are important because they mark the beginning of the downward trend.· It attributed the slight improvement in load factor to recent schedule changes and fare sales.· She remained sedated and in a critical condition throughout Tuesday 7 July although she showed some slight improvement.· The record does, however, show a slight improvement over its predecessor.· Once again sales have moved well and terminations actually showing a slight improvement over last year!· Two other patients reported a slight improvement, and one reported no improvement at all.· The only consolation was that this was a slight improvement on 1987 when Dagenham fell 14 percent short of target.
· There have, for example, been slight increases in average family size and in the average age at marriage.· Most tour packages and many resorts are reporting they are either holding the line or having only slight increases in price.· Textiles accounted for just over a third, after a slight increase that got through to profit.· Thiazides may cause a slight increase in magnesium excretion.· This is unlikely to produce anything more than a slight increase in vaginal discharge which has no particular distinguishing features.· Here the increment in individual risk from a slight increase in contact rate is negligible, assuming the individual acts alone.· Both figures constitute a slight increase over the previous year.· Transfection with TAP2 a resulted in a slight increase of HLA-A2 and HLA-B5 expression, which we are investigating at present.
· The person I had seen could have not the slightest interest in a beat-up old poet like me.· It was the first time he had ever shown the slightest interest in any type of work.· He'd never shown the slightest interest in any other woman - any decent woman.· You've never displayed the slightest interest in what I do.· I looked round thinking everyone would stare at me, but to my relief no one showed the slightest interest.· She hasn't the slightest interest in Monpazier.· He seemed to have not the slightest interest in what she was saying.· If I were a woman I wouldn't have the slightest interest in it either.
· I noticed he had a slight limp.· Noonan walked with a slight limp.· Unfortunately he suffered damage to a knee which left him with a permanent slight limp.· His mind concentrated itself on Tolby's footsteps which were slightly uneven, as if the solicitor had a slight limp.· The only sign of his accident is that he walks with a slight limp.· She noticed for the first time that he had a slight limp.
· I do however have orders for two more with slight modifications.· A slight modification of the above example will give us an instance of a deduction that is not valid.· A slight modification of the procedure will enable us to add equality constraints.· This constitution survived with only slight modifications until the Municipal Reform Act of 1835.· The geographical distribution of both doctors and hospitals has remained in favour of the upper socio-economic groups with only very slight modifications.
· The slightest movement caused them to twang and reverberate through the silent apartment.· Joe says bravely and makes a slight movement towards the door.· It is sensitive to slight movements of the camera, subject or reference strip and will sometimes trigger spurious diagnostics.· Your nerve endings bristle at the slightest movement.· His eyes were glued to the hands of Young Jack, awaiting the slightest movement amongst the dark captain's metaphysical digits.· When ripe these pear-shaped fungi are filled with dust-like spores which pour out of the small central opening at the slightest movement.· Trent met it with a slight movement of the tiller bar, and the big catamaran lifted smoothly.· She kept as still as possible; every slight movement made her whimper.
· Then the slight pause, the half-second of calm and false progress.
· There would be some slight problem in distinguishing Jalame glass from that imported to the site.· She had a slight problem, no doctor to conduct the test..· It's only a slight problem I have with names.· He saw that one fire engine got through okay but the second a slight problem in two places.· Speed I've been using RapidCad for a month or so and It's not given me the slightest problem.· One slight problem was that soil built up between the outside tines and the subsoiler legs.· He was already used to being called out by the Sheikhs for the slightest problem.· Hired plant invoices may create a slight problem where the hire period extends across two accounting periods.
· In third field go forward to waymarked stile at far end, keeping just right of slight rise.· Would a slight rise in the rate of inflation from the current 2. 5 percent really hurt?· In the lowest-lying places, which are flooded at any slight rise in the water level, no trees grow.· It was huge, red-roofed and white-walled, the main house on a slight rise inside the high-walled perimeter.· This means a slight rise in the wages account which is no different than working overtime for cleaning and maintenance of machinery.· Speciality Chemicals division saw a slight rise in operating profit from £223m in 1990 to £225m.· Despite a slight rise in his approval rating during the campaign, he remains a liability.
· Perhaps it was to exploit this slight sign of thaw that Eisenhower immediately afterwards invited Khrushchev to the United States.· I looked around for the slightest sign of life.· They had always found buccaneering terribly alarming, and felt seasick at the slightest sign of bad weather.· And investors who pumped up software stocks in 1995 are now running from the slightest sign of risk.· There was not the slightest sign in his behaviour of any strict Methodist upbringing.· They show not the slightest sign of that one essential attribute we think animal life should have: movement.· Indeed, if we leave only the slightest sign of our passing we should be satisfied.
· He leaned back in the chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.· A slight smile curved her mouth, relaxing the rigidity of her body.· She looks at him with a slight smile.· He gives her an angry look, shakes his head, then lets his mouth loosen into a slight smile.· A slight smile now, and a walk that was both casual and wary; cat-like.· Usually his parishioners listened to his lectures with a slight smile, an engaged expression.· Miss Jarman stood back, a slight smile on her raddled face.· Gomez's slight smile was that of a man who believed that politeness demanded he act a little embarrassed at doing his job.
· These variations may be a result of slight variations in the amount of template cDNA.· There was never the slightest variation.· It is employed by a wide range of species, with slight variations.· They show slight variations, for example in the woodcut decorations.· A slight variation in this household was that one social worker stayed behind.· Special Scheme Home policies may have slight variations in cover and should be handled accordingly.· There are however slight variations, the first being where the independent belongs to a retail buying association.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- But whether the parent with the yellow flowers supplies the egg or the pollen makes not the slightest difference.
- I tried closing my eyes; it made not the slightest difference.
- There was now not the slightest doubt that Hsu was decaying and losing her structural integrity.
- I challenge you to name an artist who is completely original, and not in the slightest bit derivative.
- Of course, Alexander would not in the slightest deny the more traditional view.
- Shoddily made and prone to virtually instant disintegration, it's not that cheap and it's not in the slightest cheerful.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveslightslightestnounslightverbslightadverbslightly
1[usually before noun] small in degree OPP big: a slight improvement a slight increase a slight change of plan a slight pause a slight problem► see thesaurus at small2not the slightest chance/doubt/difference etc no chance, doubt etc at all: I didn’t have the slightest idea who that man was.3someone who is slight is thin and delicate OPP stocky► see thesaurus at thin4not in the slightest British English spoken not at all: ‘Did he mind lending you the car?’ ‘Not in the slightest.’slight1 adjectiveslight2 verb
slightslight2 verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
slight
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | slight |
| he, she, it | slights | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | slighted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have slighted |
| he, she, it | has slighted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had slighted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will slight |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have slighted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am slighting |
| he, she, it | is slighting | |
| you, we, they | are slighting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was slighting |
| you, we, they | were slighting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been slighting |
| he, she, it | has been slighting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been slighting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be slighting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been slighting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- It was never our intention to slight minority communities.
- But does the academic agenda of the classroom get slighted in all this?
- He had left things to others too long, and his sovereignty was in danger of being slighted.
- I am used to being ignored and slighted, but mark this well!
- I have never slighted techniques in my teaching, writing, and consulting.
- Polly didn't know whether to feel relieved or slighted.
- This disillusion causes one to feel neglected, slighted, rejected, etc.
- Through metaphor Thoreau renders the self and nature in total interrelationship without slighting either half of the duality.
- We feel we are being slighted, or overlooked, or not given our due, etc.
Longman Language Activatorto feel offended
· She'll be offended if you don't say thank you for her help.offended by · He's always offended by jokes aimed at Irish people.offended that · He felt offended that she didn't want to go out with him.deeply offended · Some people may find rude jokes funny, but others may be deeply offended.
very angry and upset, for example because someone has done something that shows they have little respect for you or your abilities: · Molly would be insulted if we didn't go and see her while we were in town.insulted by: · Please don't be insulted by anything I say.insulted that: · He felt insulted that they had not told him about the party.deeply insulted: · We must eat as much as possible, or she will be deeply insulted.
offended, especially because someone has not included you in their plans: · The guest list was very short, so no-one felt slighted because they hadn't been invited.
offended and surprised, especially because you feel that you have not been treated fairly: · When she said I was interfering, I was a bit put out.put out about: · She was rather put out about being described as plain.put out by: · The minister was not put out by the note of impatience in Cohen's voice.
to feel offended by something someone says or does, especially something that does not seem serious to other people: · Don't mention her hairstyle. She'll probably take offence.· Please don't take offence, but I would prefer you not to swear in front of the children.take offence at: · He didn't seem to take offence at my lack of enthusiasm for his idea.be quick to take offence: · He described her as a woman who is temperamental and quick to take offence.
to feel offended by something, especially a criticism, even though it was not aimed at one particular person: · Anna took it personally when the boss said some people were not working hard enough.· This is a general criticism, so I hope none of you will take it personally.· I didn't take his rebuff too personally, since I was used to his habit of being rude to his juniors.
to be offended by something someone says or does when it was not intended to offend you and you have understood it in the wrong way: · Daniel sat in silence, afraid whatever he said would be taken the wrong way.· Don't take this the wrong way, but your driving has really improved.
formal to feel offended by something someone says, and to make it clear that you feel this way: · I took exception to what he said about my family.· Paul took exception to her advice, which he said undermined his self-esteem.take great exception to something: · I take great exception to the suggestion that I neglected my responsibilities.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Derek felt slighted when no one phoned him back. She may take it as a slight on her ability as a mother. a slight to his authorityCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It just needs a few minor adjustments. The sign leaned over at a slight angle. The usual symptoms are a pink rash with a slight fever. There was a slight hesitation in Jamie’s voice. In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success. Young walked with a slight limp. I had a slight mishap with one of the glasses. Julie has a tendency to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
Derek felt slighted when no one phoned him back. She may take it as a slight on her ability as a mother. a slight to his authority· He has a very slight accent.
It just needs a few minor adjustments. (=a small one)· Karpov enjoyed a slight advantage over his opponent.
The sign leaned over at a slight angle. (=that changes direction slightly or gradually)· Ahead of us there was a wide bend in the river.
· The curtains lifted in the light breeze.
(=fairly thin)· Simpson was of slight build and shy in character.
· He only has a very small chance of being elected.· There’s a slight chance of some sunshine in the west.
· The proposed changes were relatively minor.
· It’s only a slight cold – I’ll be fine tomorrow.
(=one that is not very serious)· He has a slight cough but I don’t think he’s really ill.
· It’s only a small cut.
· There are one or two minor defects on the car’s paintwork.
· There was a slight delay in the departure of the plane.
· There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird.
· Children who are young in their school year sometimes have a slight disadvantage.
(=no doubt)· There’s not the slightest doubt in my mind about it.
(also a bit of an edge) (=a small advantage)· Running on the inside lane will give him a slight edge.
(=small)· I think that saying the animals are almost extinct is a slight exaggeration.
(=for any reason, however unimportant)· She comes to our house at the slightest excuse.
The usual symptoms are a pink rash with a slight fever. (also a bit of a headache spoken) (=one that is not very serious)· I’d rather stay at home – I’ve got a bit of a headache.
There was a slight hesitation in Jamie’s voice. In spite of some technical hitches, the first program was a success.· Sales figures have shown a slight improvement this month.
· Doctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.· The temperature increase was quite small.
(=not serious)· She’s suffering from a slight infection.
Young walked with a slight limp. I had a slight mishap with one of the glasses. (=a small modification)· The document needed a few slight modifications.
(=small)· His eye caught a slight movement behind the bushes.
(=not severe)· I’ve got a slight pain in my side.
· "Well, that was a surprise," he said after a brief pause.
Julie has a tendency to burst into tears at the slightest provocation.· A spider’s venom usually causes only a slight reaction.
(=not strong)· Don't you think she has a slight resemblance to that blonde singer in Abba?
(=not very strong)· There was a slight sense of embarrassment.
· There has been only a slight shift in income distribution.
· She gave him an apologetic little smile.
· Daniel never had the slightest suspicion of how she really felt.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· This disillusion causes one to feel neglected, slighted, rejected, etc.· We feel we are being slighted, or overlooked, or not given our due, etc.· Polly didn't know whether to feel relieved or slighted.· By singling out the black population for a special history month makes all other races feel slighted.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveslightslightestnounslightverbslightadverbslightly
to offend someone by treating them rudely or without respect: Derek felt slighted when no one phoned him back.—slight noun [countable]: She may take it as a slight on her ability as a mother. a slight to his authority