a thimble full of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thimble full of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small quantity of something, often in a figurative sense. Example: "He only had a thimble full of patience left after dealing with the constant interruptions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Michael Ross displays a thimble full of dust from his house.

The New York Times - Arts

You can make bigger drinks – called Lungo, which are essentially doubles – but you're basically stuck with a thimble full of strong coffee in most cases.

TechCrunch

The system works well for moving several atoms at a time--although they can't count exactly how many--but isolating and transporting a few at a time is difficult, a bit like trying to carry a thimble full of water through a raging storm on a boat.

Science Magazine

Offering our girls a thimble full of water while ignoring the inferno being set ablaze behind our backs.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Unfortunately," he said, the stimulus package offers "a thimble-full of fuel for this engine".

The New York Times

Initial modeling indicated that a thimble-full of the tracer would be detectable under foreseeable conditions, even when mixed with millions of gallons of fluid.

The New York Times

The end result is half a thimble-full of fragments of fossilised bones (a 0.25mm newt finger bone, for instance) and other microscopic teeth and fish scales.

The Guardian

It's called "Find the drinking fountain", and it's guaranteed to keep you busy during the longest of delays.Since security rules were tightened in 2006, passengers have been forbidden to take more than a thimble-full of water through security.

The Economist

These microbes of death were so small, that 1 billion of them could fit in a thimble-full of ocean sediment, and yet, they were almost responsible for killing off all the life on our planet, the scientists suggest.

Los Angeles Times

And nothing says you're hardcore like a plastic thimble full of an unknown substance that's about 2percentt alcohol and 98percentt warm Appletiser. .

Vice

We actually meant a thimble full.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a thimble full of" to emphasize the smallness of a quantity in a creative and easily understood way. This is best suited for contexts where you want to evoke a sense of scarcity or insignificance.

Common error

Avoid using "a thimble full of" in formal or technical writing where precise measurements are required. The phrase is figurative and lacks the necessary accuracy for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thimble full of" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a very small amount. It is frequently used figuratively to emphasize scarcity or insignificance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the expression "a thimble full of" effectively conveys a very small quantity, typically in a figurative manner. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct. Its usage is more common in news and media, as well as science and wiki contexts, and is best suited for situations where emphasizing scarcity or insignificance is desired. While grammatically sound, remember that this phrase lacks the precision required for formal or scientific writing. Remember that you can employ alternative terms such as "a tiny amount of", which could potentially be more proper in certain circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny amount of

Replaces the metaphor with a more literal description of small quantity.

a minuscule quantity of

Uses stronger vocabulary to emphasize the extremely small amount.

a drop in the bucket

Emphasizes insignificance relative to a larger whole.

a smidgen of

Informal term for a very small amount, implies imprecision.

a hint of

Suggests a barely perceptible amount, often used for flavors or qualities.

a soupçon of

A more sophisticated word for a very small amount, borrowed from French.

a trace of

Indicates a minimal presence, almost undetectable.

an iota of

Uses a Greek letter to symbolize an extremely small quantity.

a speck of

Implies a tiny particle or fragment.

a modicum of

Suggests a small but perhaps sufficient amount.

FAQs

How can I use "a thimble full of" in a sentence?

You can use "a thimble full of" to describe a very small quantity, as in "He only showed "a thimble full of" remorse for his actions".

What phrases are similar to "a thimble full of"?

Similar phrases include "a tiny amount of", "a minuscule quantity of", or "a drop in the bucket", all suggesting a very small quantity.

Is it correct to say "a thimbleful" instead of "a thimble full of"?

"A thimbleful" is a perfectly acceptable and more concise alternative to ""a thimble full of"". Both phrases have the same meaning.

What is the origin of the expression "a thimble full of"?

The expression uses the image of a thimble, a small sewing tool, to represent a tiny volume, thus ""a thimble full of"" something symbolizes an almost insignificant quantity.