a slim hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slim hope" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a faint, small chance of something being possible. Example: In the face of all the bad news, there remained a slim hope that the cancer could be cured.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

It's a slim hope.

The New York Times

So maybe there's a slim hope yet.

The Guardian - Business

And besides, a slim hope is better than none at all.

The Economist

But the Mets still have a slim hope of keeping him.

The New York Times - Sports

Eriksson said a slim hope remained the Drogba would be able to play in South Africa.

The Guardian - Sport

Cashman departed the meetings with a slim hope that something would be done in the next few days.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Vaughn is still holding out hope, although it is a very slim hope, that he may be able to play again.

The New York Times - Sports

Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure gave City a commanding half-time lead and any slim hopes of a United recovery were snuffed out by further goals from Aguero and Samir Nasri within five minutes of the restart.

BBC

While Mr. Spencer believes that BlackBerry is most likely to be broken into separate pieces of varying interest to buyers, he said the Microsoft transaction could provide BlackBerry with a new, if slim, hope for salvation.

The New York Times

Signs that the elephants are responding to the threat with a baby boom offer slim hope for their survival.

Science Magazine

The only slim hope is a deal, led by the White House and a small group of McCainites.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slim hope" to realistically temper expectations, especially when discussing uncertain outcomes or challenging situations. It acknowledges a possibility while avoiding over-optimism.

Common error

Avoid using "a slim hope" when there's a high probability of success. Using it in such cases can undermine confidence or create unnecessary doubt.

Linguistic Context

A slim hope functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It expresses the existence of a small or faint possibility. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A slim hope is a phrase used to describe a small or faint chance that something positive might happen. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. The phrase appears frequently in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. While it conveys optimism, it's essential to use it judiciously to manage expectations realistically. Alternatives such as "a faint hope" or "a slight chance" can be used to add nuance, but the core meaning remains consistent: a small degree of possibility remains despite unfavorable odds.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a faint hope

Replaces "slim" with "faint", emphasizing the weakness or insubstantiality of the hope.

a slight chance

Substitutes "hope" with "chance", focusing on the probabilistic aspect of the possibility.

a remote possibility

Replaces "slim hope" with "remote possibility", highlighting the unlikelihood of the event.

a small likelihood

Uses "likelihood" instead of "hope" or "chance", presenting the situation in terms of statistical probability.

a distant prospect

Emphasizes the remoteness and uncertainty of the hoped-for outcome.

a negligible prospect

Highlights that the prospect is so small as to be almost insignificant.

a far-fetched expectation

Replaces 'hope' with 'expectation', portraying the expectation as unlikely or unrealistic.

a minimal expectation

Uses "minimal expectation" to denote a reduced level of anticipation or confidence.

a fragile anticipation

Substitutes 'hope' with 'anticipation', adding the connotation of delicacy and easy shattering.

a slender thread of hope

Introduces the metaphor of a "slender thread", visually reinforcing the fragility and tenuousness of the hope.

FAQs

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

You can use "a slim hope" to express that there is a small chance of something happening. For example: "Despite the challenges, there's "a slim hope" that the project will be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to saying "a slim hope"?

Alternatives to "a slim hope" include phrases like "a faint hope", "a slight chance", or "a remote possibility", all indicating a low probability of success.

Is it better to say "a slim hope" or "a small hope"?

Both "a slim hope" and "a small hope" are acceptable. "A slim hope" often implies a more delicate or tenuous possibility compared to "a small hope", which simply suggests a limited amount of hope.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a slim hope"?

Use "a slim hope" when you want to acknowledge that a positive outcome is possible but not very likely. It's suitable when discussing scenarios with significant challenges or low odds of success.