a thin hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thin hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a very slight or uncertain possibility of something happening. Example: "Despite the challenges we face, there is still a thin hope that we can turn things around."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Admittedly, it is a thin hope.

The Economist

They were drawn to Wyoming, where Ms. Kipp has family, by the promise of plentiful jobs and a booming energy sector, and a thin hope of rebuilding their futures on the High Plains.

The New York Times

Howard-Brook says that Western Christianity has "declared Jesus' explicit call for God's kingdom on earth as in heaven a heresy, replacing it with a thin hope for individual souls after death.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the statement from Dick and Lynne contains a strange twist of logic that belies any thin hope of insincerity.

The Guardian - Opinion

But he also felt a thin, eager hope that these two women could fix her, that they were capable of doing something simple that would suddenly make everything all right.

The New Yorker

There is hope among advocates -- thin hope, perhaps -- that it might merit Olympic consideration.

The New York Times

But as administration officials argued for calm, they also faced their thin hopes for a peace agreement evaporating in the gun battles between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

The New York Times

Ending a four-game losing streak, the Broncos (3-6) kept alive their thin hopes of getting back into the playoff race by handing the Chiefs (5-4) their second straight loss.

The New York Times - Sports

The air is very thin and even down the straights there is no resistance, so we have the Monaco rear wing on the car but we're doing Monza speeds". Rosberg's thin hopes of delaying Hamilton's coronation as champion died following a mistake in the closing stages of the US Grand Prix last weekend.

BBC

The caravan of people slowly making their way on blistered feet and thin hopes toward America's southern border sometimes seems like an election gift to President Trump, giving him fresh meat to throw to his base on the eve of fateful midterm elections.

The New York Times

Upon those thin hopes the newly constituted Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement recently gave Shell preliminary approval to attempt this high-wire act in the Arctic.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a thin hope" when you want to express a minimal expectation or possibility, acknowledging that the desired outcome is not very likely.

Common error

Avoid using "a thin hope" when you genuinely believe the possibility is strong or probable. This phrase implies a low degree of confidence in the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thin hope" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it denotes a slight or uncertain possibility, expressing a delicate expectation. Examples in Ludwig show it is often used to describe situations where the likelihood of a positive outcome is low.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a thin hope" is a noun phrase used to express a slight or uncertain possibility. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and can be found in diverse contexts such as News & Media and Science. While relatively rare, this phrase conveys a sense of fragile optimism in challenging situations. Consider using alternatives like "a slim hope" or "a faint hope" to tailor your message. Be mindful of overstating the likelihood when using this phrase, as it implies a low degree of confidence in the outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slim hope

Replaces "thin" with "slim", suggesting a slightly more positive, yet still small, chance.

a faint hope

Substitutes "thin" with "faint", emphasizing the weakness or unlikelihood of the hope.

a slender hope

Uses "slender" instead of "thin", conveying a sense of fragility or delicacy of the hope.

a slight chance

Shifts from "hope" to "chance", focusing on the possibility rather than the emotion.

a remote possibility

Replaces "hope" with "possibility" and "thin" with "remote", highlighting the unlikelihood.

a distant prospect

Changes to "prospect", suggesting a future possibility that is far off and uncertain.

a fragile expectation

Emphasizes the delicacy and potential for failure of the expectation.

a mere glimmer of hope

Uses "glimmer" to illustrate a very small and weak indication of hope.

a tenuous possibility

Replaces "thin" with "tenuous", stressing the weak or shaky basis of the possibility.

an outside chance

Indicates that the chance is unlikely and not favored.

FAQs

How can I use "a thin hope" in a sentence?

You can use "a thin hope" to express a minimal expectation of something happening. For example, "Despite the setbacks, there's still "a thin hope" that we can succeed."

What's the difference between "a thin hope" and "a strong hope"?

"A thin hope" suggests a very slight possibility, while "a strong hope" implies a high degree of confidence or expectation.

Are there any synonyms for "a thin hope"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "a slim chance", "a faint hope", or "a remote possibility" as alternatives to "a thin hope".

Is "a thin hope" considered formal or informal?

"A thin hope" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.