a small hiccup

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small hiccup" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor problem or obstacle that is not significant and can be easily resolved. Example: "We encountered a small hiccup in the project timeline, but we are confident we can get back on track quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

So, it was a small hiccup in our five-day vacation.

The New York Times

A small hiccup: for whatever reason, the NASPerform mysteriously dismounted while it was idling.

TechCrunch

This decision is a "small hiccup", explained Lorne Babiuk, the vice president of research at the University of Alberta and co-chair in the initiative.

Science Magazine

Whenever the streaming service experiences even a small hiccup, I get an email asking if I'd like a partial refund of the month.

TechCrunch

Only, there's a small hiccup.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A few small hiccups aside, 13th is very much not a Michael Moore film.

The Guardian - Film

Prospective students should start with Living Languages, whose lessons in Italian I found nothing short of delightful, even with a few small hiccups.

The New York Times - Tech

"There were a few small hiccups that were easy to fix," she said, "and now QuickBase does even more than we could do before".

The New York Times

The border checkpoint is about the size of an apartment door, and every small hiccup creates hours of delays among those waiting to cross. .

Huffington Post

In VH1's latest docu-series, "I'm Married to a...," Josh and Laurel "Lolly" Weed, a married Mormon couple, discuss their seemingly normal relationship, except for one small hiccup: Josh is an out gay man.

Huffington Post

The settlement was among the largest in the 76-year history of the Securities and Exchange Commission, but it represented only a small financial hiccup for Goldman, which reported a profit of $13.39 billion for 2009, the worst period of the credit crisis.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small hiccup" to downplay a minor problem, assuring others that it's easily manageable and won't significantly impact progress.

Common error

Avoid using "a small hiccup" when describing a major problem that has significant consequences; it can minimize the true impact and mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small hiccup" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes a minor problem or temporary setback. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small hiccup" is a useful and grammatically sound way to describe a minor problem or setback. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides numerous real-world examples. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it serves to downplay issues and maintain a positive tone. While versatile, remember to choose more formal alternatives like "minor setback" in professional or academic writing to ensure the appropriate level of formality. Avoid using it to describe major problems, as this can minimize their true impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor setback

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the problem.

slight difficulty

Focuses on the ease of overcoming the problem.

trivial issue

Highlights the insignificance of the problem.

minor inconvenience

Stresses the trouble caused is not serious.

temporary snag

Implies a brief interruption or obstacle.

brief disruption

Highlights the short-lived interruption caused.

little problem

Directly states the problem is not significant.

minor glitch

Indicates a small malfunction or error.

passing difficulty

Underscores the transient nature of the issue.

momentary setback

Highlights that the issue is only for a moment.

FAQs

What does "a small hiccup" mean?

The phrase "a small hiccup" refers to a minor problem or setback that is not expected to cause significant disruption or long-term consequences. It's often used to downplay an issue.

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

You can use it to describe a minor issue in a project, a slight delay, or any other insignificant problem. For example: "We encountered "a small hiccup" during the implementation phase, but we quickly resolved it."

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

You can use alternatives like "minor setback", "slight difficulty", or "trivial issue" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a small hiccup" in formal writing?

While "a small hiccup" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "minor setback" or "slight delay" might be more suitable for formal writing or business reports.