a small feat

USAGE SUMMARY

"a small feat" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase used to describe an accomplishment that may seem minor, yet is still an achievement. For example, "She graduated university with honors - a small feat made all the more impressive given her difficult childhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It's not a small feat to beat Chelsea away and hold Tottenham to a draw".

The Guardian - Sport

He found a way to be toasted annually -- not a small feat when you consider the strange moment that toasting a stranger makes.

The New York Times

It is a small feat of social engineering and a prime example of an emerging space in the city home: the hearth for professionals.

The New York Times

Doing that may not seem like a small feat bearing in mind the level of cheating laid bare in the explosive report but it's worth noting countries like Kenya are deemed compliant when clearly the number of failed drugs tests say otherwise.

Independent

For one small example — though it was not a small feat — it is "Giovanni's Room" that, in the years leading up to the recent debate over and ultimate victory of same-sex marriage, first taught me, a black man who'd never really had to think about the subject before, to comprehend in the clearest human terms the reality and naturalness of one man's love for another man.

The New Yorker

Neither is a small feat.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This may seem like a rather small feat, but it's not.

Huffington Post

He did a back flip, no small feat for a super heavyweight who stands 6 feet 2 inches and wrestles at about 260 pounds.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite reporters camping out in front of his office with cameras, the news somehow stayed a secret– no small feat in the ever-leaky land of Silicon Valley.

TechCrunch

Renata, a campaign manager, must make a candidate "glimmer" — no small feat, considering the guy is a dolt.

The New York Times - Books

And Warner made himself an acceptable alternative, no small feat for a Democrat in Virginia".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small feat", ensure the context acknowledges the effort involved, even if it seems minor. This prevents the phrase from sounding dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "a small feat" to describe truly significant accomplishments. This can create a mismatch between the phrase and the actual importance of the achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small feat" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a predicate nominative or object complement. It describes an action or achievement, qualifying it as being minor yet noteworthy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62.5%

Science

25%

Wiki

6.25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small feat" is a noun phrase used to describe an achievement that appears minor but still holds significance due to the effort or skill involved. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While frequently found in news and media, its register is neutral, making it suitable for various contexts. It's important to use this phrase judiciously, ensuring the context aligns with the actual level of accomplishment to avoid any misinterpretations. Alternatives include phrases like "a minor accomplishment" or "a modest achievement".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor accomplishment

Replaces "feat" with "accomplishment", emphasizing the achievement aspect.

a modest achievement

Substitutes "small" with "modest", highlighting the unassuming nature of the achievement.

a simple accomplishment

Uses "simple" instead of "small", suggesting the achievement wasn't complex.

a little achievement

Uses "little" instead of "small", emphasizing the diminutive size of the achievement.

a trivial accomplishment

Emphasizes the apparent unimportance of the achievement.

a basic achievement

Focuses on the fundamental or elementary nature of the achievement.

an easy accomplishment

Highlights the lack of difficulty in the achievement.

a light achievement

Conveys a sense of ease and lack of burden in the achievement.

a negligible accomplishment

Stresses the insignificance of the achievement.

a slight achievement

Emphasizes the marginal or minimal nature of the achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "a small feat" in a sentence?

You can use "a small feat" to describe an accomplishment that might seem minor, but still requires effort or skill. For example, "Managing to stay calm during the crisis was "a small feat"."

What's a good alternative to "a small feat"?

Alternatives include "a minor accomplishment", "a modest achievement", or "a simple accomplishment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a small feat" the same as "no small feat"?

No, "no small feat" implies that something is actually quite significant or difficult, while "a small feat" suggests something is relatively minor or easy.

What does it mean if something is described as "a small feat"?

It means that although the accomplishment might not seem impressive at first glance, it still required some effort, skill, or luck to achieve. It acknowledges that even minor successes have value.