barely agree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely agree" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a situation where two parties have minimal or limited agreement on a particular issue or topic. Example: "After much discussion, we barely agree on the terms of the contract, but we will proceed with the negotiations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

And we barely agree on anything".

The Guardian - Film

A sceptical negotiator said the sides could barely agree on what to eat for breakfast.

The Economist

Right now Congress can barely agree on how to maintain our transportation systems, let alone revolutionize them.

The Washington Post

It's not always easy to know when we're in the presence of "genius". In part, that's because we barely agree on what it means.

The Washington Post

If people who can barely agree on the colour of the sky can find common cause on this point, we can surely take it for granted and move along, right?Strangely, what might be the least controversial notion in contemporary American politics is also one of the farthest from the truth.

The Economist

Despite her evident agonies, Nicola refuses to consider palliative care, will barely agree to a prescription for morphine and requires Helen to collude with her in the belief that vast, cripplingly painful doses of vitamin C can really 'scoop the cancer cells out of your body'.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But she only barely agreed to go outside.

The Washington Post

He deplores traditional rhetoric, which is "not really a proper discipline" but rather "a rag-bag of poorly defined, barely agreed, contradictory, and often overlapping concepts," but his nomenclature is liable to the same objections.

Yale University

"Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo — they barely agreed on anything for 30 years, but they both came to this chamber to strongly and eloquently endorse this bill".

The New York Times

It barely agreed to process the applications that already had been granted under the Obama administration.

HuffPost

Leave me alone, I barely agreed to this in the first place.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely agree", ensure the context clearly indicates the reasons for the limited agreement. Providing specific details adds credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "barely agree" when you actually mean complete disagreement. The phrase implies some level of consensus, however small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely agree" functions as a qualifier indicating the extent or degree of agreement. It modifies the verb "agree", highlighting the limited nature of the consensus. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely agree" signifies a minimal level of consensus, often hinting at underlying disagreements. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically sound. It is most commonly found in news and academic contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the limited nature of the agreement and consider alternatives like "partially agree" or "marginally concur" to fine-tune the conveyed nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially agree

Indicates agreement on some aspects but not others; more direct and less nuanced.

only just agree

Adds emphasis on how little is the agreement

marginally concur

Replaces "agree" with "concur" and adds "marginally" for emphasis on slight agreement; slightly more formal.

narrowly agree

Emphasizes the closeness to disagreement.

scarcely see eye to eye

Uses the idiom "see eye to eye" to represent agreement, modified by "scarcely" to emphasize lack of consensus; more figurative.

hesitantly consent

Shifts focus to the act of consenting, qualified by "hesitantly" to show reluctance; more formal.

grudgingly accept

Highlights the unwillingness behind the acceptance, implying a lack of genuine agreement; changes the verb to "accept".

find minimal common ground

Focuses on identifying shared points rather than outright agreement, using "minimal" to show the limited extent.

reach a fragile consensus

Emphasizes the instability of the agreement, suggesting it could easily break down; more formal.

nearly disagree

Highlights the proximity to disagreement. Changes the semantic orientation.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely agree" to express a minimal level of agreement between two or more parties. For example, "After a long negotiation, the parties "barely agree" on the terms of the contract".

What are some alternatives to "barely agree"?

Alternatives include "marginally concur", "scarcely see eye to eye", or "partially agree", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "barely agree" or "hardly agree"?

"Barely agree" and "hardly agree" are quite similar, but "barely" emphasizes the small margin of agreement. The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of emphasis you want to place on the limited consensus.

What does it mean when people "barely agree"?

When people ""barely agree"", it signifies that they have reached a minimal level of consensus, often with significant reservations or remaining points of contention. It suggests that reaching any agreement at all was difficult.