as thick as ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as thick as ever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that remains unchanged or consistent, often in a negative context. Example: "Despite the warnings, the fog was as thick as ever, making it difficult to see the road ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It was as thick as ever overhead.

The New Yorker

His Manchester accent remains as thick as ever.

The Guardian - Sport

The PS2 retails at ¥39,800, so North Korean agents, as thick as ever on the streets of Tokyo, can carry them out, unmonitored, one by one.

The Economist

And so the rumors fly as thick as ever: about a possible coup, about the real story behind the fall of Bo Xilai, about who crashed that red Ferrari in Beijing… Chinese citizens remain uncowed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When George W. Bush enters the resplendent chamber tonight for the eighth and last time during his reign, shaking a hundred hands with a smile, the political theater will be as thick as it's ever been since 1861 as senators from the Confederate states bid teary farewells on the floor.

Huffington Post

Raymond B. Harding leans forward and speaks in his characteristic gravelly monotone, the Bronx accent as thick as the smoke trailing from the ever-present Camel cigarette in his hand.

The New York Times

CSM: As thick as bicycle tires?

Huffington Post

The curd should be as thick as thick hollandaise.

Los Angeles Times

Sauce should be as thick as paste.

WikiHow

Apply it as thick as possible.

WikiHow

The crowds are thick as ever, the cellphones ubiquitous as always, and sure, the audience went into a neck-craning wave when Demi Moore showed up with her boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher, for his new film -- out in theaters imminently -- "The Butterfly Effect".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as thick as ever" to emphasize the unchanging nature of a condition, particularly when there might have been an expectation of change. For example, "Despite the new regulations, the bureaucracy was as thick as ever".

Common error

Avoid using "as thick as ever" when describing a newly established condition; "ever" implies continuity. Instead, use "as thick as can be" or "incredibly thick" to describe something that is newly thick.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as thick as ever" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to describe the degree or extent to which something remains unchanged. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its proper usage in denoting persistent conditions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as thick as ever" is used to describe the unchanging nature of something, often with a negative connotation, with a focus on the continuation of a state or condition. It is grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, but relatively rare in occurrence and predominantly found in news and media contexts. While the phrase effectively conveys persistence, writers should be mindful of its register and consider more formal alternatives for academic or business writing. When used appropriately, "as thick as ever" adds emphasis and color to descriptions of unchanging situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

still as thick

Focuses on the persistence of thickness.

just as thick as always

Adds emphasis on the consistent level of thickness over time.

remains as thick

Emphasizes the continuous state of being thick.

as dense as before

Replaces "thick" with "dense" to indicate a similar level of compactness, referring to a past state.

undiminished in thickness

Highlights that the thickness has not decreased.

as heavy as ever

Suggests an analogy related to density or intensity that is sustained.

as substantial as before

Shifts the attribute to "substantial", indicating significant quantity or degree.

as concentrated as always

Focuses on the concentration of something, implying a kind of density.

as intense as always

Changes focus to the intensity, implying density by analogy.

just as impenetrable

Metaphorically describes thickness through the difficulty of passing through or understanding something.

FAQs

How can I use "as thick as ever" in a sentence?

Use "as thick as ever" to describe something that remains unchanged despite expectations or efforts to change it. For example, "The crowd was "as thick as ever", even after the concert started".

What does "as thick as ever" imply?

It implies that a condition or state remains unchanged, often despite circumstances or expectations to the contrary. It suggests a persistence or resilience of that state.

What are some alternatives to using "as thick as ever"?

Alternatives include phrases like "still as thick", "just as thick as always", or "remains as thick", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "as thick as ever" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "as thick as ever" may sound somewhat informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives such as "the same thickness persisted" or "the condition remained unchanged" to convey a similar meaning with a more formal tone.