barely a hint

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely a hint" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where there is very little indication or suggestion of something. Example: "The report provided barely a hint of the underlying issues." Alternative expressions include "hardly a clue" and "scarcely a suggestion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

During three decades at the pinnacle of his sport, under the glare of more than a billion countrymen, there has been barely a hint of controversy.

BBC

There is barely a hint of DIY anything, anywhere.

The New York Times - Arts

There barely a hint of the difficult choices to come.

The Guardian

At first there is barely a hint of a smile.

The Guardian - Sport

As the British Open began, there was barely a hint of breeze and only intermittent drizzle.

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't see any contradiction," he says, with barely a hint of defensiveness.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Though there was also, just barely noticeable, a hint of what we used to call juiciness in his speech, some minor undispersable moisture in his cheek that one heard in each of his "s"s and "f"s.

The New Yorker

If you are picking your own green tomatoes, try to pick the ones that are just barely getting a hint of a pinkish hue.

WikiHow

Half an hour later, high up in apricot-laden branches, I plucked a perfect specimen -- barely fuzzy with just a hint of a blush -- and bit into it.

The New York Times

You would barely get a hint of that from our big New York museums.

The New York Times - Arts

Outdoors she came second a couple of times at European grand prix meets but barely gave a hint of her capabilities, admitting to messing up her tactics in one race, an unusual lapse for one so adept at race management, and hitting the wall in another.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely a hint" to express a subtle or understated presence of something, ensuring the context highlights the minimal nature of the indication. For example, "There was "barely a hint" of criticism in his tone, suggesting underlying dissatisfaction."

Common error

Avoid using "barely a hint" when the indication is actually significant or obvious. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing the subtlety or near absence of something. Otherwise, it can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely a hint" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the minimal degree or extent of a noun. Ludwig AI shows that it is employed to downplay the presence of something, such as emotion, evidence, or flavor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely a hint" is a versatile expression used to denote a minimal or subtle indication of something. Grammatically correct and very common, it is employed across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. Ludwig AI confirms that it functions as an adverbial modifier and serves to convey understatement. When writing, use it to emphasize subtlety, but avoid it when the indication is more substantial. Related phrases like "slightest suggestion" and "faintest trace" can offer nuanced alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightest suggestion

Emphasizes the minimal nature of the indication.

faintest trace

Highlights the very weak presence of something.

mere suggestion

Implies that the indication is unsubstantial and easily overlooked.

subtle indication

Focuses on the understated and delicate nature of the hint.

remote possibility

Shifts focus to the unlikelihood of something.

vague notion

Highlights the lack of clarity or definition in the indication.

scant evidence

Emphasizes the limited amount of proof or indication available.

minimal sign

Indicates that the signal or indication is at its lowest.

almost imperceptible

Highlights how something can be unnoticed.

hardly noticeable

Highlights how something can be easily missed.

FAQs

How can I use "barely a hint" in a sentence?

You can use "barely a hint" to describe something that is only subtly noticeable or suggested. For example: "There was barely a hint of sadness in her voice" or "The dessert had barely a hint of spice".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "barely a hint"?

Similar phrases include "slightest suggestion", "faintest trace", or "minimal sign". These all emphasize the minimal presence of something.

Is it correct to say "there was barely a hint of evidence"?

Yes, it's correct. The phrase "barely a hint" can be used with nouns like 'evidence', 'emotion', or 'flavor' to indicate a very small amount or indication of something. It implies that the presence is so minimal as to be almost nonexistent.

What is the difference between "barely a hint" and "more than a hint"?

"Barely a hint" indicates a very slight or subtle suggestion, while "more than a hint" implies a noticeable or obvious indication. The former suggests subtlety, while the latter indicates clarity and visibility of the suggestion.