a slightly garish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slightly garish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat flashy or overly bright in color or design, often in a way that is considered tasteless or excessive. Example: "The room was decorated in a slightly garish style, with neon colors and clashing patterns that overwhelmed the senses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is similar in design to the others but the multiple colors on-screen give it a slightly garish look.

The New York Times - Tech

"Strong installation often changes the feel of a space," Patterson told me, and, standing there, you do feel transported into a slightly garish and magical world.

The New Yorker

Even so, a 2002 Guardian article – inspired by yet another Wimpy management buyout and rebrand (a slightly garish yellow and green design) – confidently predicted a comeback for the beleaguered burger chain on the grounds that a new type of high street had opened up: "One catering for people who cannot afford to indulge in the sort of consumer splurging that is apparently fending off recession".

Vice

Too much blush can overwhelm the face and create a slightly garish and overdone look.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's a stark, functional, slightly garish look, a complete break from the "classic" Penguin Classic that's been standard since 1963 – black-spined and richly designed, with, on the cover, a full-colour reproduction of a painting that bears some relation to the contents.

The Guardian - Books

The Sultan Pub is a fun, if slightly garish, American-style bar spread over three floors, serving hamburgers and alcoholic drinks within sight of the Aya Sofya.

The Guardian - Travel

At the rate of about one a day, he turned out slightly garish semi-abstractions, manipulating paint with his fingers, combs and other small objects, including brushes made from Marie's hair.

The New York Times - Arts

Which is the problem in general with this film, which was shot in slightly garish color that lends everything an unpleasant cast: It rarely rises above the pedestrian.

The New York Times

Night after night in New York City, the events take place, in people's apartments or slightly garish catering halls.

The New York Times

The ball gowns for the other characters are slightly garish so Cinderella will shine all the more.

Huffington Post

His engagement in its rites, his small dinner at the fair's end every year, for which some leading European publishers stayed late, his charm and mode of dress, which fit right in here and didn't feel extravagant or slightly garish as it could in New York, even his contraband Cuban cigars all added to Homer's stat­ure in the halls and watering holes of Frankfurt.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a slightly garish", consider the context and audience to ensure the level of disapproval or criticism aligns with your intended tone. It works best when implying mild disapproval.

Common error

Avoid pairing "a slightly garish" with overly negative or hyperbolic language, as this can create an unbalanced or melodramatic effect. Let the phrase stand on its own to convey a nuanced sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slightly garish" functions as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something possesses a somewhat unpleasant or excessively showy quality. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in describing appearances, designs, and even lighting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a slightly garish" is a descriptive expression used to convey a mild disapproval of something's appearance, suggesting it's somewhat excessively bright, showy, or in poor taste. As noted by Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is correct. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "somewhat gaudy" or "a bit too flamboyant" can be used to express similar sentiments, while adjusting the intensity or focus. When employing this phrase, consider your audience to ensure it aligns with your intended tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat gaudy

Replaces "slightly" with "somewhat" and "garish" with "gaudy", indicating a similar level of excessiveness but with a focus on ostentation.

somewhat ostentatious

Uses "ostentatious" to highlight the intention to impress or attract notice, conveying a sense of showiness.

somewhat flashy

Uses "flashy" to indicate a showy and often vulgar display, conveying a similar but more modern sense of being garish.

a bit too flamboyant

Shifts the focus to excessive ornamentation and showiness, using "flamboyant" to convey a similar sense of being over the top.

mildly flamboyant

Combines a moderate qualifier with "flamboyant" to describe something showy but not extremely so.

a touch tacky

Emphasizes poor taste or lack of style, using "tacky" to suggest a similar but subtly different negative quality.

a tad tasteless

Focuses on the lack of good taste, using "tasteless" to suggest something is offensive or unappealing.

a little over the top

Replaces the direct description with a more general idiom indicating excessiveness.

marginally excessive

Focuses on the exceeding of reasonable limits, suggesting something goes slightly beyond what is acceptable.

a shade loud

Highlights the boldness and obtrusiveness of the appearance or behavior.

FAQs

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

Use "a slightly garish" to describe something that is somewhat excessively bright, showy, or in bad taste. For example, "The decorations were "a slightly garish", but the party was still fun."

What's the difference between "a slightly garish" and "a bit ostentatious"?

"A slightly garish" focuses more on clashing colors or poor aesthetic choices, while "a bit ostentatious" emphasizes an intention to impress or attract attention, often through wealth or extravagance.

What can I say instead of "a slightly garish"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat gaudy", "a bit too flamboyant", or "a touch tacky" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a slightly garish" a formal or informal expression?

"A slightly garish" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience, as "garish" itself can be perceived negatively.