a slim light

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slim light" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a light that is narrow or thin in appearance or intensity. Example: "As the sun began to set, a slim light filtered through the trees, casting delicate shadows on the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you want a slim, light machine, you'll pay a premium and find things left out.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She was waiting for me across the street, a slim, light-skinned African-American woman in jeans, a parka, and a knit cap, waving with both arms.

The New Yorker

Lloyd Henry is a slim, light-eyed black man who ran a 47.4-second quarter mile in college and almost looks as if he could do it again today.

The New Yorker

At the Hope Program, a nonprofit employment service in Brooklyn Heights, Jon Bunge, the director of employment, pointed out a snapshot of the father: a slim, light-skinned man with glasses, resplendent in a white shirt and tie as he graduated from the "job-readiness" program in 1994, having polished brass and scrubbed floors at a church for months.

The New York Times

And the company said that next month it would release a slimmer, lighter model with a 120-gigabyte hardriveve, also priced at $299.

The New York Times - Tech

Sony is offering a slimmer, lighter version of its PlayStation 3. The new $300 PlayStation 3 Slim console comes with a 120-gigabyte hardriveve, a Blu-ray disc player and built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.

The New York Times

The new One M9 has a solid aluminium unibody design found in previous One flagship devices but now with a two-tone colour scheme and a slimmer, lighter body.

The Guardian - Tech

Rumors of the arrival of a slimmer, lighter, leather-jacket-wearing iPhone 5 prevailed, and when the iPhone 4S showed up looking like its predecessor -- with its indigestion cured and with its resting pulse rate decreased, sure, but still looking the same -- many were let down.

Huffington Post

It presupposes that people will want to carry around an object that is – in comparison with a laptop – slim, light and elegant but – in comparison with an iPhone – clunky, heavy and possibly a bit pointless.

The Guardian - Tech

The latest MacBook is slim, light, has a gorgeous high-resolution display and a choice of metallic colours to choose from (gold, silver and space grey).

Independent

The slim, light gowns were a dark-side replica of the fairy haute couture designs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a slim light", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are describing a light source that is both narrow or thin and not very bright. This phrase works well in descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a slim light" when you intend to describe a light source that is simply small but still bright. The phrase implies both narrowness and low intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slim light" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (implied or explicit) to describe a light source that is both narrow/thin and not very bright. Ludwig's examples illustrate its usage in describing physical attributes of light.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slim light" is a descriptive phrase used to depict a light source that is both narrow or thin and not very bright. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare. It's primarily found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that both the slimness and the lack of intensity are relevant to the description. Consider alternatives like "a faint glow" or "a narrow beam" if either aspect is more important than the other. Remember that the goal is to accurately and vividly convey the nature of the light you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a faint glow

Replaces "slim" with "faint", focusing on the intensity of the light rather than its physical narrowness.

a narrow beam

Uses "narrow beam" to emphasize the focused direction of the light.

a thin ray

Substitutes "slim" with "thin" and "light" with "ray", highlighting the light's form.

a delicate illumination

Emphasizes the gentle quality of the light using "delicate illumination".

a subtle radiance

Focuses on the understated nature of the light, using "subtle radiance".

a muted gleam

Highlights a soft and subdued light using "muted gleam".

a weak shimmer

Emphasizes the faintness of the light with "weak shimmer".

a restricted illumination

Replaces "slim" with "restricted", indicating a limited scope of light.

a contained brightness

Suggests the light is limited or controlled, using "contained brightness".

a gentle luminescence

Emphasizes the soft and glowing nature of the light, using "gentle luminescence".

FAQs

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

You can use "a slim light" to describe something like a thin beam of light filtering through a crack or a dim light source that doesn't illuminate much. For example, "A slim light peeked through the curtains, barely illuminating the room."

What's a synonym for "a slim light"?

Alternatives to "a slim light" include "a faint glow", "a narrow beam", or "a thin ray". The best choice depends on the specific context you're describing.

Is "a slim light" the same as "a dim light"?

While there's overlap, "a slim light" emphasizes the narrowness or thinness of the light source, while "a dim light" focuses on its low intensity. You could have a wide but dim light, or a narrow, slim light.

When should I avoid using "a slim light"?

Avoid using "a slim light" if you only want to describe the intensity of the light and not its shape or size. In that case, alternatives such as "a soft light" or "a weak light" might be more appropriate.