a few tricky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few tricky" is not correct as it is incomplete and lacks context.
It could be used in a context where you are referring to a small number of challenging items or situations, but it needs to be part of a complete sentence. Example: "There are a few tricky questions on the exam that require careful thought."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

There are a few tricky draglifts but good intermediate slopes.

The Telegraph

Like most innovators, I ran into a few tricky spots.

The New Yorker

The Academy was created to get the film business out of a few tricky spots.

The Guardian - Film

Ergonomically, the Ghost's cockpit is not overly complicated, despite a few tricky, transplanted BMW controls like a version of the iDrive system.

The New York Times

China in particular has a few tricky months to navigate before it can be sure that inflation will not go higher.

The New York Times

Dickens was never poor again – though there were a few tricky periods during the 1840s, when he had to borrow money and live abroad.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Playing good perfect strategy includes surrendering properly, and playing a few trickier hands correctly (like doubling correct soft hands).

Forbes

I'm not sure if difficulty is really the right term to describe the arc of the game… there are a few trickier puzzles towards the end of the game, but the solution is never too complex.

TechCrunch

Playing good perfect strategy includes surrendering properly, and doing a few trickier correct moves (like doubling correct soft hands).

HuffPost

Some fairways have been realigned, and a few other tricky or demanding elements have been added to holes.

The New York Times - Sports

At Barber, which has a few very tricky off-camber dropping turns, the Cayenne was superbly forgiving, with very little chassis roll.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow the phrase "a few tricky" with a noun to provide context. For example, "a few tricky questions" or "a few tricky situations".

Common error

Avoid using "a few tricky" in isolation. It requires a noun or context to be grammatically complete and meaningful. Without it, the phrase is vague and lacks clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few tricky" functions as a qualifier or modifier, typically describing nouns. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct as it is incomplete and lacks context. It needs to be completed with a noun.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a few tricky" functions as a qualifier that points to the existence of a limited quantity of complex or challenging items or situations. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically incomplete without a following noun. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, with some presence in academic and wiki contexts. Remember to provide the necessary context when using "a few tricky" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. The related phrases provided offer ways to rephrase this concept, each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few troublesome

Replaces 'tricky' with 'troublesome', emphasizing the problematic nature.

a few tough

Substitutes 'tricky' with 'tough', emphasizing the difficulty or demanding nature.

a few problematic

Replaces 'tricky' with 'problematic', focusing on the troublesome nature.

some challenging

Broadens the scope to 'some' and uses 'challenging' to replace 'tricky', indicating a demanding nature.

a few sensitive

Substitutes 'tricky' with 'sensitive', highlighting the delicate or precarious nature.

a few risky

Substitutes 'tricky' with 'risky', emphasizing the potential for danger or failure.

a few cumbersome

Replaces 'tricky' with 'cumbersome', focusing on the awkward or unwieldy aspect.

a few touchy

Replaces 'tricky' with 'touchy', stressing the need for careful handling.

a few awkward

Substitutes 'tricky' with 'awkward', highlighting the uncomfortable or embarrassing aspect.

a few sticky

Replaces 'tricky' with 'sticky', highlighting the complicated and potentially messy nature.

FAQs

How can I use "a few tricky" in a sentence?

The phrase "a few tricky" requires a noun to follow it to make sense, such as "a few tricky problems" or "a few tricky situations". It describes a small number of things that are challenging or difficult.

What can I say instead of "a few tricky"?

You can use alternatives like "some challenging", "a couple of difficult", or "a few complicated" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say just "a few tricky"?

No, "a few tricky" is not grammatically complete on its own. It needs to be followed by a noun to specify what is tricky, like "a few tricky steps" or "a few tricky parts".

What's the difference between "a few tricky" and "some challenging"?

"A few tricky" implies a small number of something difficult to handle, while "some challenging" suggests a less specific quantity but still indicates a demanding situation.