a trifle well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trifle well" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is done to a small degree or slightly better than expected. Example: "She performed a trifle well in the competition, impressing the judges with her unique style."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As a political meal it may seem a trifle, well, Italian, especially if you're feeding eurosceptic Tories, but it's a nice compromise between shepherd's pie and moussaka.

The Guardian

By the fifth day, one woman, who had been previously aloof, was confiding over cocktails that the Queen—a personal friend, we were given to understand—can herself be a trifle, well, cool on occasion.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Aunt Amelia," one of these conspirators asks, "does it ever occur to you that this family is a trifle eccentric?" Well, yes, but in the nicest, most endearing ways.

The New York Times - Books

Visual gags are just a trifle too well choreographed; when the clowns emerge in ludicrous costumes, you can almost hear the stage-whispered "Ta-daaah!" And the actors seem to be laboring under rigorous constraints.

The New York Times

If the choice seems a trifle recherch, well, that's sort of the deal in cabaret.

Forbes

Does this sound… well, a trifle fevered?

The Guardian

But beware, unless you're of a certain stature, ie not short, the combo of wide shorts and socks can make one feel, well, a trifle squat and frankly there's nothing hot-to-trot about that.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In a situation where everything conspires to make him a trifle ridiculous he bears himself well; his perfect modesty is wonderfully refreshing.

The New Yorker

Does paying prices which have multiplied by 19 times over five years for an artist whom no one outside the art world has ever heard of not seem, well, just a trifle incautious?

The Guardian - Arts

Still, it's Grandma — played well, if a trifle too adorably, by Lois Markle — who is drawn with something like love in "The Sandbox" and in Albee's 1960 play "The American Dream," both of which are now being revived at the Cherry Lane under the playwright's beautifully self-aware direction.

The New Yorker

Its décor is clean (lots of white) and its food and its clientele can both be described as bourgeois, which in this case means not stodgy but well-mannered and a trifle old-fashioned in a comforting way.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trifle well" when you want to subtly suggest that something was done slightly better than expected, but avoid overstating the achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "a trifle well" when describing truly outstanding achievements. This phrase is best suited for modest improvements or slight successes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trifle well" functions as an adverbial modifier. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating the degree or extent to which an action is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a trifle well" is a grammatically correct way to express a slight degree of success or effectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and while it is not a very common phrase, its usage is consistent across reputable news and media sources. It is best used in contexts where a subtle understatement is desired, avoiding overstatement of achievements. Alternatives such as "somewhat well" or "slightly successfully" can be used to convey similar meanings. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles, though it is less common in everyday speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately well

Replaces "a trifle" with "moderately", conveying a balanced sense of accomplishment.

reasonably well

Changes "a trifle" to "reasonably", suggesting an acceptable level of performance.

somewhat effectively

Replaces "a trifle" with "somewhat" and "well" with "effectively", focusing on the degree of success.

adequately well

Uses "adequately" in place of "a trifle", implying a sufficient but not exceptional outcome.

slightly successfully

Substitutes "a trifle" with "slightly" and "well" with "successfully", indicating a mild degree of achievement.

marginally well

Emphasizes the slight improvement by using "marginally" instead of "a trifle".

a bit competently

Replaces "a trifle well" with "a bit competently", using the adverb "competently" instead of the adjective "well".

somewhat skillfully

Substitutes "a trifle well" with "somewhat skillfully", highlighting a degree of expertise.

a little bit effectively

Expands "a trifle" to "a little bit" and uses "effectively" for emphasis.

just about well

Replaces "a trifle" with "just about", implying a bare minimum of competence.

FAQs

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

You can use "a trifle well" to indicate that something was done somewhat effectively or slightly better than anticipated. For instance, "She performed "a trifle well" in the competition, impressing the judges with her unique style".

What does "a trifle well" mean?

"A trifle well" suggests that something was done to a small extent or slightly better than expected. It implies a modest degree of success or effectiveness.

What can I say instead of "a trifle well"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat well", "slightly successfully", or "moderately well", depending on the context.

Is "a trifle well" formal or informal?

"A trifle well" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in writing than in casual conversation.