a trifle anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trifle anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a slight or minor level of anxiety about a situation. Example: "She felt a trifle anxious before her big presentation, but she was well-prepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Modest in its pretensions, shyly proud of its petite virtues, a trifle anxious in relation to its brash rival, it contents itself with sitting back and letting the novel take on the big world.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She seemed a trifle nervous and unsure of the teleprompter.

The Economist

A trifle overwrought?

The New Yorker

(He looks a trifle smug).

The New Yorker

Call it a trifle.

The New York Times

Becomes a trifle voyeuristic.

The Guardian - Opinion

The very name was "a trifle".

The New York Times - Arts

This seems a trifle cynical.

The New Yorker

It seems a trifle presumptuous.

The Guardian - Books

This seems a trifle obtuse.

The New York Times

But still a trifle discomfiting.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trifle anxious" to convey a mild sense of worry or unease, often in formal or literary contexts. It suggests a degree of anxiety that is not overwhelming but still noticeable.

Common error

Avoid using "a trifle anxious" in everyday conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal or affected. Opt for more common alternatives like "a bit worried" or "slightly nervous" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trifle anxious" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It describes the subject as experiencing a mild level of anxiety or worry. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a trifle anxious" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe a mild degree of anxiety. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in written English, especially in neutral to formal contexts such as news and media, even though it's considered rare due to its limited number of real-world examples. Related phrases include "slightly worried" or "a bit uneasy", which offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality. When using this phrase, be mindful of its slightly formal tone and consider whether a more common alternative might be more appropriate for your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly worried

Replaces "a trifle" with "slightly", indicating a minor change in intensity.

a bit uneasy

Substitutes "anxious" with "uneasy" and "a trifle" with "a bit", altering the specific emotion and intensity slightly.

somewhat apprehensive

Replaces "a trifle anxious" with "somewhat apprehensive", resulting in a more formal tone.

a little concerned

Uses "a little concerned" instead of "a trifle anxious", providing a more common and less formal alternative.

slightly stressed

Changes "anxious" to "stressed", focusing on a different aspect of unease and using "slightly" for a similar intensity.

mildly nervous

Employs "nervous" instead of "anxious" and "mildly" in place of "a trifle", offering a close synonym with a similar level of intensity.

rather worried

Swaps "a trifle" for "rather", keeping the sense of slight worry.

a touch apprehensive

Replaces "a trifle" with "a touch", maintaining the subtle degree of unease and using "apprehensive" for a formal tone.

somewhat worried

Offers a more direct and common way to express a similar level of anxiety, substituting "a trifle anxious" with "somewhat worried".

a shade uneasy

Uses "a shade" instead of "a trifle" and "uneasy" instead of "anxious", providing a slightly different nuance to the feeling of unease.

FAQs

How can I use "a trifle anxious" in a sentence?

You can use "a trifle anxious" to describe someone experiencing a mild degree of worry or unease, such as, "She was "a trifle anxious" before the interview, but she performed well nonetheless."

What's a less formal way to say "a trifle anxious"?

Less formal alternatives to "a trifle anxious" include "a bit worried", "slightly nervous", or "a little concerned".

Is "a trifle anxious" the same as "very anxious"?

No, "a trifle anxious" indicates a mild level of anxiety, while "very anxious" suggests a much stronger and more intense feeling of worry. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "a trifle anxious" instead of "slightly anxious"?

While both convey a mild degree of worry, "a trifle anxious" is more formal and literary. Use it when you want to add a touch of elegance or refinement to your writing or speech, or if you want to use a more refined phrase.