a sliver of bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sliver of bread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small, thin piece of bread, often in contexts related to food or sharing. Example: "After the meal, I was left with just a sliver of bread on my plate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A boiled egg adds creamy contrast, while, in addition to the main white/ brown carbs, a sliver of dark fruit "bread" is almost a built-in dessert, when partnered with a cheese with which it can produce that magical, mouth-filling "third taste" (eg, the explosive, umami overlap of plum bread/lincolnshire poacher).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their holdings include a morsel of a croissant shared by Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellan, a sliver of Prince Charles's bread pudding and a piece of zucchini that Mia Wasikowski skipped over while eating a bowl of soup.

Huffington Post

To bring out a slight sweetness in the cheese, serve it with a sliver of membrillo and some good bread.

Los Angeles Times

And so, just after the woman at church extended her well-meaning hand, I took communion worrying that that sliver of bread might be my last.

The New York Times

The perfect loaf to make those delicate oblong aperitif sandwiches, the sort you see in Paris carefully wrapped in wax paper to keep the bread soft and moist, with the crusts banished so a sliver of filling peeks out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It offered a sliver of optimism.

The New York Times

There is a sliver of light.

Nature

But still, a sliver of the sun shone out.

Stanford University

Behind it, though, lies a sliver of campus history.

University of California, Berkeley

A sliver of wood changed his fortunes.

The New York Times

Yet a sliver of hope remains.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sliver of bread" when you want to emphasize the small size or thinness of the piece of bread being referred to. It adds a more descriptive and evocative image than simply saying "a piece of bread".

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "a sliver of bread" too frequently in formal writing can sound overly descriptive or sentimental. Opt for more neutral terms like "a portion of bread" or "a piece of bread" in professional documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sliver of bread" functions as a noun phrase, specifically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It denotes a small, thin piece of bread. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sliver of bread" is a grammatically sound and descriptive noun phrase used to depict a small, thin piece of bread. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's best employed when the specific size and shape of the bread are relevant to the context. It is more frequent in neutral contexts such as news and lifestyle articles and might be too descriptive for more formal writings. Related phrases include "a piece of bread" or "a thin slice of bread", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a piece of bread

Focuses on a general, unspecified amount of bread.

a thin slice of bread

Emphasizes the thinness of the bread.

a small portion of bread

Highlights the diminutive quantity of bread.

a morsel of bread

Emphasizes the small and perhaps precious nature of the bread.

a crumb of bread

Indicates a very small, broken-off piece of bread.

a fragment of bread

Highlights that it is a broken piece of bread.

a bite of bread

Implies an amount of bread consumed in a single bite.

a shaving of bread

Implies a very thin and narrow piece, like a shaving from wood.

a wedge of bread

Suggests a triangular cut of bread.

a fraction of a loaf

Suggests an even smaller amount that what is normally portioned.

FAQs

How can I use "a sliver of bread" in a sentence?

You can use "a sliver of bread" to describe a small, thin piece of bread, such as "He ate only "a sliver of bread" with his soup".

What's the difference between "a sliver of bread" and "a slice of bread"?

"A slice of bread" generally refers to a standard, cut piece from a loaf, while ""a sliver of bread"" implies a very thin or small, often irregularly shaped piece.

What are some alternatives to "a sliver of bread"?

Alternatives include "a piece of bread", "a thin slice of bread", or "a small portion of bread", depending on the context and desired emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "a sliver of bread" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, ""a sliver of bread"" might sound too descriptive for formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "a piece of bread" or "a portion of bread".