a small foretaste of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small foretaste of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate a brief or limited experience of something that suggests what is to come. Example: "The teaser trailer provided a small foretaste of the film's thrilling action." Alternative expressions include "a brief glimpse of" and "a taste of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That will make what happened in Oakland a small foretaste of what is likely to come.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

For those who can't wait, a small foretaste is turning up in cyberspace.

The New Yorker

But was that period of progress an aberration or a foretaste of the fairer world to come?

The Guardian

And last Thursday, Amnesty International UK released a media briefing offering a foretaste of their report on killings in the province.

The Guardian - Opinion

The work is "a milestone, but also a foretaste of what is to come," according to theorist Adam Burrows of the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Science Magazine

That serpent is a foretaste of a terrible text printed on the wall of the exhibition's most daunting room.

The Guardian - Arts

Its lack of foul odor seemed something like a foretaste of an improved future Gowanus Canal.

The New York Times

In the Christian community it was an expression of praise and a foretaste of eternal gladness.

Huffington Post

We already had a foretaste of this a couple of weeks ago, when Vice President Joe Biden visited Baghdad to laud US achievements.

Independent

Read today, it seems a jovial foretaste of existentialism — music-hall Beckett.

The New Yorker

Shooting broke out, and "bleeding Kansas" offered a grim foretaste of the horrors of the Civil War.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small foretaste of" when you want to convey that an experience is just a brief indication of something larger or more significant to come. For example: "The initial results were a small foretaste of the challenges ahead."

Common error

Avoid using "a small foretaste of" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "a glimpse of" or "a hint of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small foretaste of" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, offering an initial or limited experience of something. Ludwig AI indicates that this is grammatically correct and used to suggest an anticipation or prediction of future events or experiences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small foretaste of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something serves as a brief, initial glimpse into a larger or more significant future event or experience. As shown by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to set expectations or hint at what is to come. While grammatically correct, the phrase is relatively rare, so varying your language with synonyms like "a glimpse of" or "a taste of" can improve your writing's flow. Remember to use it when you want to convey that something is just a brief indication of something larger on the horizon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a taste of

Implies a brief experience that gives an idea of what something is like.

a preview of

Suggests an advance showing or sample.

a glimpse of

Indicates a brief and incomplete view or experience.

a small sample of

Emphasizes the limited and representative nature of the experience.

a hint of

Suggests a subtle indication or suggestion of something to come.

a preliminary experience of

Formal and emphasizes the early and introductory nature of the experience.

an inkling of

Indicates a slight suspicion or vague idea.

an appetizer for

Functions metaphorically, likening the experience to a small dish before a larger meal.

a forewarning of

Highlights the aspect of being warned or given advance notice.

a premonition of

Suggests an intuitive feeling about a future event.

FAQs

How can I use "a small foretaste of" in a sentence?

Use "a small foretaste of" to indicate that an experience is a brief, initial indication of something larger or more significant to come. For instance, "The positive feedback was a small foretaste of the success the project would achieve."

What can I say instead of "a small foretaste of"?

You can use alternatives like "a glimpse of", "a hint of", or "a taste of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a small foretaste of" or "a taste of"?

Both phrases are valid, but "a small foretaste of" implies a more predictive element, suggesting a preview of something larger to come. "A taste of" simply indicates a brief experience.

When is it appropriate to use "a small foretaste of" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "a small foretaste of" when you want to highlight that a current event or experience is an early indication or sample of something more substantial that will happen in the future. For example, "The economic downturn was a small foretaste of the recession that followed."