a slender hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slender hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a faint or weak possibility of something happening or being true. Example: "Despite the challenges ahead, she held onto a slender hope that things would improve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As the US president prepares to quit the White House, he is drawing up his final pardon list, presenting the prisoner with a slender hope.

The Guardian

A slender hope, backed by Britain and some other EU countries, is that ordinary Somalis will eventually force their leaders to put national interest above self-interest and sign the proposed agreement in Djibouti.

The Economist

Two victories in a row had provided the west Yorkshire side with a slender hope of avoiding relegation, and had they not missed two penalties they could have been looking at a third.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

State repression may do that sometimes but it is a sad and slender hope for those who yearn for intra-Muslim accord.

The Economist

Dougie Brown's injury-ravaged side are now 32 points clear of danger with two games left, and should be safe, barring any major calamities, but any slender hopes they had of retaining their title have now gone.

BBC

Some of the cases, usually representing a convict's last slender hope, were years old.

The New York Times

Also — and crucially — it wants to leave the petitioners some slender hope, a fantasy that one day injustice will find redress.

The New York Times

Like the Obama Administration, the Jordanian leadership clings to the slender hope of a diplomatic resolution.

The New Yorker

Frank Rich, in The Times, described the show as "a temper tantrum in two acts" but noted that the climax, where the famous man breaks down and veers between ordering audience members to leave and begging them to stay, was a moment of self-awareness that "holds out at least the slender hope that Mr. Albee might yet pick himself up from the floor".

The New York Times

Rodgers has been sacked 27 times, offering the Giants slender hope that he can be stopped.

The New York Times - Sports

Now they just pay bribes," he says.That slender hope rests principally on reform of the judiciary and court system.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Enhance the impact of "a slender hope" by contrasting it with the prevailing pessimism or despair in the situation. This highlights the tenacity of clinging to even the smallest chance of a positive outcome.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the likelihood of success when using "a slender hope". The phrase implies a weak probability; overemphasizing the potential outcome can create a jarring disconnect for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slender hope" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes the quality or state of "hope" by modifying it with the adjective "slender", indicating its fragility or weakness. Ludwig AI supports this usage as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slender hope" is a grammatically sound phrase used to depict a faint or fragile possibility. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its relatively low frequency suggests it might be less common than alternatives like "a faint hope" or "a slim chance". Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase carries a neutral tone suitable for diverse scenarios where delicate optimism needs to be conveyed, highlighting the importance of context to avoid overstating the actual possibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a faint hope

Replaces "slender" with "faint", emphasizing the weakness and uncertainty of the hope.

a slight chance

Uses "slight" instead of "slender", emphasizing the minimal probability of success.

a fragile hope

Emphasizes the delicate and easily broken nature of the hope using "fragile".

a slim chance

Substitutes "hope" with "chance" and "slender" with "slim", focusing on the probability aspect.

a tenuous hope

Replaces "slender" with "tenuous", indicating a weak and uncertain basis for hope.

a glimmer of hope

Uses "glimmer" instead of "slender", suggesting a faint and flickering source of hope.

a narrow hope

Uses "narrow" instead of "slender", suggesting limited scope or opportunity for the hope to materialize.

a remote possibility

Replaces "hope" with "possibility" and "slender" with "remote", highlighting the unlikelihood of the outcome.

a marginal hope

Indicates that the hope is barely sufficient or significant using "marginal".

a distant hope

Highlights the remoteness and unlikelihood of the hope using "distant".

FAQs

What does "a slender hope" mean?

The phrase "a slender hope" refers to a small or faint possibility that something desired may happen, even though the odds are against it. It suggests a fragile optimism in the face of challenging circumstances.

How can I use "a slender hope" in a sentence?

You can use "a slender hope" to describe a situation where there's minimal chance of success but some optimism remains. For example, "Despite the overwhelming evidence, they clung to "a slender hope" that their loved one would be found safe."

What are some alternatives to "a slender hope"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a faint hope", "a slim chance", or "a glimmer of hope", which all convey a similar sense of delicate or unlikely possibility.

Is "a slender hope" a common expression?

While grammatically correct, "a slender hope" isn't as common as phrases like "a faint hope" or "a slim chance". Ludwig AI's analysis indicates it's usable, but you might consider more frequent alternatives for broader appeal.