a slightly cold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly cold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a minor degree of coldness, such as food, drink, or the temperature of an environment. Example: "I prefer my drinks a slightly cold rather than ice-cold, as it enhances the flavor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Proceed with caution as you will be making a slightly cold approach and you don't want appear as though you are pestering.

The Guardian

$300m (price ranking: one) In recent years, Paul Gauguin has gone from zero to hero, the old view of him as a slightly cold and unengaging character replaced by acclamation as one of the boldest pioneers of modern art.

The Guardian - Arts

Edinburgh, you're a slightly cold shoulder with a warm heart.

BBC

"The Voice" veteran Shelbie Z may have a big voice and perhaps a slightly cold heart: She unceremoniously ditched her fellow group members, Tonie Starr and Marlena Johnson, early on, leaving them "high and dry" and in danger of elimination.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We opened with a slightly colder tone as the two women don't know each other.

The Guardian

Three local television outlets have issued winter outlooks to date — FOX5, WUSA9, and NBC4 — and all are predicting a slightly colder than average winter.

The Washington Post

Although the soils had a high skeleton content and the oldest soil started its development in a slightly colder climatic phase, typical weathering trends could still be detected.

CATENA

Improved British Gas profits last year were the result of a slightly colder winter and lower costs, said Conn, who insisted "we passed on the impact of falling commodity prices to customers".

The Guardian - Business

When the temperature rises you simple go for a slightly colder version of the same chocolate bar you already eat.

Vice

In fact, the Midwest had a slightly colder January in 2009, and the Northeast had colder Januaries in 2003, 2004, and 2009, too.

Huffington Post

Pure silicon carbide can be made by the so-called Lely process, in which SiC powder is sublimated into high-temperature species of silicon, carbon, silicon dicarbide (SiC2), and disilicon carbide (Si2C) in an argon gas ambient at 2500 °C and redeposited into flake-like single crystals, sized up to 2×2 cm, at a slightly colder substrate.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food or beverages, use "a slightly cold" to suggest an ideal serving temperature that is refreshing without being too chilled. For instance, "Serve the white wine "a slightly cold" for optimal flavor".

Common error

Avoid using "a slightly cold" in highly formal or technical writing where more precise language might be preferred. Consider using specific temperature ranges or scientifically accurate descriptions instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly cold" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe the quality of something having a minor degree of coldness. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's used to characterize temperature or sensation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slightly cold" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe something with a mild degree of coldness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While not exceptionally common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Its usage is generally neutral, making it suitable for a range of writing styles. When a more formal tone is needed, synonyms such as "somewhat cold" or more precise temperature descriptions may be preferable. The key is to use "a slightly cold" when you want to convey a gentle, rather than intense, coldness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a touch cold

Replaces "slightly" with "touch", indicating a minimal degree of coldness.

a bit cold

Substitutes "slightly" with "bit", suggesting a small amount of coldness.

a little cold

Uses "little" in place of "slightly", conveying a similar sense of minor coldness.

somewhat cold

Employs "somewhat" as a synonym for "slightly", indicating a moderate degree of coldness.

marginally cold

Replaces "slightly" with "marginally", implying a small difference in temperature.

faintly cold

Uses "faintly" to suggest a barely perceptible level of coldness.

mildly cold

Replaces "slightly" with "mildly", suggesting a gentle or moderate coldness.

a near-cold

Expresses the state of being close to but not quite cold.

barely cold

Uses "barely" to emphasize the minimal amount of coldness.

just a little cold

Adds emphasis to the small degree of coldness.

FAQs

What does "a slightly cold" mean?

The phrase "a slightly cold" describes something that has a mild degree of coldness, more than cool but less than very cold.

How can I use "a slightly cold" in a sentence?

You might say, "The soup was served "a slightly cold", which wasn't very appetizing", or "The room had "a slightly cold" atmosphere, making it feel unwelcoming".

What are some alternatives to "a slightly cold"?

You can use alternatives like "a touch cold", "a bit cold", or "somewhat cold" to express a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "a slightly cold" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a slightly cold" might be too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider more precise terms depending on the situation.