a little bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little bread" is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used when referring to a small amount of bread. For example, "I just need a little bread for my sandwich."

✓ Grammatically correct

Food

Poverty

Survival

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

"Just looks like a little bread mold.

The New Yorker

There will have been a little bread for them at breakfast, but nothing more.

The New York Times

"Since I came here we've had just tea and a little bread.

The New York Times

A box with just a little bread will have lower humidity, and maintain crispness better.

The New York Times - Food

He walked on until he had a little bread and a potato in his pocket — a surplus.

The New Yorker

If garlic is too powerful, you can add a little bread soaked in milk to tame sauce.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Instead, use something rough and blank, like crackers or crusty bread, or a little sugar.

WikiHow

Sugar sandwiches: Thickly smear butter over a slice of bread, sprinkle a little sugar over the top, roll it up, and eat.

WikiHow

There's a lot of little bread crumbs for anybody who's digging really deep and for the super fans back there.

Huffington Post

Japanese artist Yukiko Morita has created Pampshade, a line of exquisite little bread lamps made by baking fresh bread, coating them in an inedible resin seal and stuffing them with LED lights.

Huffington Post

"We're going to make our own bread in house — pita bread that I've been working on, with a little semolina, bread flour, a lot of olive oil so it's nice and elastic.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a little bread" when you want to emphasize a small or limited quantity of bread, especially in contexts related to simple meals or scarcity. Ensure it aligns with the tone and situation you're describing.

Common error

Avoid using "a little bread" repetitively in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "some bread", "a bit of bread" or descriptive adjectives to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little bread" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "a little" acts as a determiner quantifying the uncountable noun "bread". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

15%

Huffington Post

12%

Less common in

The New Yorker

8%

The Guardian

6%

The New York Times - Food

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little bread" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes a small amount of bread. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, especially when referring to simple meals, scarcity, or sustenance. While versatile, varying your descriptive language is recommended to avoid repetition. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources. When communicating the idea of a very small quantity of bread, consider using synonyms like "some bread" or "a bit of bread" for added nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A bit of bread

Uses "bit" to denote a small, indefinite quantity of bread.

Some bread

Focuses on the presence of bread without quantifying the amount.

Minimal bread

Directly states that the amount of bread is very small.

A small piece of bread

Specifies a piece, emphasizing the diminutive size and focusing on a fragment of bread.

Scant bread

Emphasizes the lack of sufficient bread, highlighting its scarcity.

A crust of bread

Highlights the hard outer layer of bread, implying a minimal portion.

A mouthful of bread

Emphasizes the small quantity as being just enough to fill the mouth.

A morsel of bread

Uses "morsel" to suggest a tiny, almost insignificant amount of bread.

A ration of bread

Suggests a controlled, often limited, portion of bread.

A sprinkle of bread crumbs

Indicates a scattering of bread crumbs, rather than a solid portion of bread.

FAQs

How can I use "a little bread" in a sentence?

You can use "a little bread" to describe having a small amount of bread, such as: "All I had for breakfast was "a little bread" and some cheese."

What's a good alternative to "a little bread"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a bit of bread", "some bread", or "a small piece of bread".

Is it ever incorrect to say "a little bread"?

The phrase "a little bread" is generally correct. However, avoid using it when referring to individual, countable units of bread like "slices" or "loaves". In those cases, use "a few slices of bread" or "a small loaf of bread" instead.

What does "a little bread" imply about the situation?

The phrase "a little bread" often suggests a situation of scarcity, simplicity, or basic sustenance. It might imply a lack of resources or a focus on essential provisions.