barely coping with

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely coping with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom that generally means to barely manage something without much success. For example, "He was barely coping with his hectic work schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I was teaching English (very badly), barely coping with temperatures of -15C and fighting a losing battle with the Russian language.

The Guardian - Opinion

When they were barely struggling to survive, barely coping with a drastically changed world, fighting to speak their own language quickly became a lost battle.

The Guardian

It was recorded in 1998, when, as is now well known, the band were in a bad way: Damon was getting over Justine Frischmann, Graham was struggling with alcohol and his relationship with Damon, the whole band were barely coping with their leap into the mainstream.

The Guardian - Music

Max, their eldest son, is supposed to be taking over the farm, but he's barely coping with the responsibilities he's already got: a newly pregnant wife who's learnt to close down her emotions, "not in a petulant way, but just practical, so the nerve endings aren't exposed.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Brightman's secondary role, as Jenny's roommate Evan, an obsessed gay fan of the show, is among the evening's daffiest pleasures, his breathless live tweeting during the broadcast set to energetic song: Episode 10 and barely coping With the fact that I'm still hoping They'll reveal some secret groping Frowny face times 20!

The New York Times

Sentencing Gardiner, Judge Ford had said he had heard he was "barely coping" with his remorse and regret.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Existing test and validation methods barely cope with today's complexity.

Princeton University

"I can barely cope with inflation in the thousands, but millions?

The Guardian - Money

The reality, however, is that it can barely cope with many of the basics.

The Guardian

"I can barely cope with my apartment in New York," she said.

The Guardian

IN MANY European countries, dwindling Christian flocks can barely cope with the patrimony they have inherited, from steeples to statues.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "barely coping with" with specific details about the negative consequences or the effort required to maintain even a minimal level of functionality.

Common error

Avoid using "barely coping with" when the situation is merely inconvenient rather than genuinely challenging. Reserve it for scenarios where failure is a real possibility or where significant effort is required to maintain a basic level of function. Consider alternative expressions like "managing with some difficulty" if the situation does not demand such a strong negative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely coping with" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a state of managing something with great difficulty. Ludwig shows its usability in describing situations where one is almost overwhelmed but still functioning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely coping with" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express difficulty in managing a situation. As Ludwig confirms, this expression is correct and commonly used in writing to portray that someone is almost overwhelmed. While deemed rare in terms of example count, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media. When writing, ensure the context warrants the strong negative connotation and consider alternatives like "just managing" for less dire circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely managing

Adds emphasis on how slender is the possibility of managing. It is still manageable, although with difficulty.

barely getting by

Focuses on surviving or managing at a minimal level, suggesting a lack of resources or ability to thrive.

struggling to manage

This phrase highlights the effort and difficulty involved in trying to cope, emphasizing the struggle.

scarcely able to handle

Emphasizes a limited capacity to deal with something, suggesting a struggle to manage effectively.

just managing

This alternative suggests a minimal level of success in dealing with something, similar to "barely coping with".

finding it difficult to cope with

Highlights the difficulty that someone is facing when managing a situation, similar to "barely coping with".

finding it hard to handle

This option focuses on the subjective experience of difficulty in managing something.

having a hard time dealing with

This option emphasizes the difficulty and unpleasantness of the experience.

hanging by a thread

This idiom indicates a precarious situation where one is barely holding on, similar to "barely coping with".

at the end of one's rope

This idiom conveys a sense of desperation and being overwhelmed, suggesting a limit to one's ability to cope.

FAQs

How can I use "barely coping with" in a sentence?

You can use "barely coping with" to describe a situation where someone is struggling to manage a difficult situation. For example, "After the budget cuts, the department was "barely coping with" the increased workload".

What are some alternatives to "barely coping with"?

Some alternatives include "just managing", "struggling to manage", or "finding it difficult to cope with". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "barely coping with" formal or informal?

"Barely coping with" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though in very formal writing, you might prefer a more precise or nuanced expression.

What does it mean to say someone is "barely coping with" something?

It means they are having a very hard time managing a situation, with little margin for error or unexpected challenges. They are "barely getting by" or "hanging by a thread".