a thick fine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thick fine" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a substantial penalty or fee, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The city imposed a thick fine on the business for repeated violations of safety regulations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Grind the mixture to a thick fine paste.

WikiHow

Spoon the curds onto a thick, fine cheesecloth or muslin handkerchief.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The research involves a 100 mm thick fine crushed rock pavement layer, which has been stretched horizontally by the opening of a crack in the underlying subgrade and the tensile force displacement responses were observed in the laboratory.

Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Moreover, the NEAR mission found that 433 Eros is covered by a relatively thick fine-grained regolith.

Icarus

The roof of the seam was made up of, from the bottom up, 4.8 m thick mudstone, a 0.2 m thick coal streak and 4.2 m thick fine sandstone.

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology

The succession comprises diamict, gravel, sand, lignite and thick, fine grained sediments.

Quaternary Science Reviews

Thick, fine grasses, fescues, foxtails and sweet vernal grass, grow knee-high, intertwined with scrambling clumps of egg-yellow bird's-foot trefoil.

The Guardian

The sedimentary features mostly include massive bedding and its lithology is well-sorted thick fine sandstone.

Geoscience Letters

10 20 cm thick fine sediments have enhanced the productivity of vegetables and grains.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

The base of the tsunami deposit is characterized by a 2 5 cm thick fine-grained traction carpet.

Nature

A conspicuous white, coarse, sand bed 1.5 m thick, fining upward to a 0.5 m dark gray-red mottled clay lies within the gravel.

Geothermal Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a financial penalty, consider using stronger and more commonly accepted alternatives like "hefty fine" or "substantial penalty" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "thick" to describe the amount of a fine, as it's not standard usage. Stick to established terms that clearly denote the size or severity of the fine, such as "hefty", "substantial", or "severe".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thick fine" functions as an adjective-noun combination where "thick" modifies "fine". However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this combination is not standard in English and is considered incorrect when referring to financial penalties. Its grammatical role is therefore questionable in common usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a thick fine" might appear in various contexts, it is generally considered non-standard and potentially incorrect, especially when referring to financial penalties. Ludwig AI underscores that more appropriate alternatives, such as "hefty fine" or "substantial penalty", are better choices for clarity and correctness. The sources where it appears are varied, but its overall infrequency and questionable grammatical standing suggest avoiding this phrase in formal or professional writing. Using clearer alternatives ensures your message is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial fine

Emphasizes the amount or significance of the fine, suggesting a large sum of money.

a hefty fine

Similar to 'substantial fine', it highlights the severity or considerable amount of the fine.

a steep fine

Implies that the fine is excessively high or unreasonable.

a considerable fine

Indicates that the fine is noteworthy or significant in size.

a significant penalty

Shifts the focus to the broader concept of a penalty, which can be monetary or otherwise, but is of considerable impact.

a heavy penalty

Similar to 'significant penalty', but it conveys a sense of severity and burden.

a severe penalty

Emphasizes the strictness and gravity of the imposed penalty.

a stringent penalty

Suggests that the penalty is imposed rigorously and is strictly enforced.

a dense fog

Describes a fog with high density, where the use of "thick" is commonly applied.

a heavy mist

Describes a mist with considerable density, where the use of "thick" can be suitable.

FAQs

Is "a thick fine" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "a thick fine" is not a standard or commonly used phrase. It's better to use alternatives like "a hefty fine" or "a substantial penalty".

What can I say instead of "a thick fine"?

You can use alternatives such as "a hefty fine", "a considerable fine", or "a significant penalty" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a thick fine" or "a hefty fine"?

"A hefty fine" is the more correct and commonly used phrase. "A thick fine" is less clear and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "a thick fine" and "a substantial fine"?

"A substantial fine" is a widely accepted way to describe a significant financial penalty, while "a thick fine" is not idiomatic and could be misinterpreted. "Substantial" clearly conveys the amount, whereas "thick" is typically used for physical dimensions.