blip on the chart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blip on the chart" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insignificant change or event in a larger context, often in data or trends. Example: "The recent dip in sales was just a blip on the chart, as overall performance has been strong this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Barely a blip on the chart.

Forbes

What we've seen was a blip on the chart, engineered by a couple of "going out of business" sales by the car and housing industry.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

New vehicles that cost more than $45,000 were ineligible for the Cash for Clunkers program, so much of the improvement among luxury brands can be credited as a solid gain, not as a blip on the charts, Longnecker says.

Forbes

In the decade since the number of federal prosecutions of bad cops on misconduct and excessive force charges has registered barely a blip on the charts.

Huffington Post

Other EV models, such as the Tesla, are produced in such low volumes and at such high prices that they barely register a blip on the sales charts.

Huffington Post

In the end, Digg and Twitter are just footnote blips in the chart.

TechCrunch

Cuss words were hardly a blip on the screen before the 1990s, according to Lamm's charts.

Los Angeles Times

But arriving in the midst of a career defined almost entirely by broad, bawdy comedies, "Moneyball" gives Mr. Hill the opportunity and obligation to demonstrate that it was no mere statistical blip on his batting chart.

The New York Times

It spent eight weeks on the chart.

Wikipedia

It spent 31 weeks on the chart.

Wikipedia

It lasted eight weeks on the chart.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blip on the chart" to downplay the importance of a temporary deviation in data, ensuring your audience understands it's not a significant issue. It's especially useful in business or financial contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "blip on the chart" too frequently, as it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "minor fluctuation" or "insignificant data point".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blip on the chart" functions as a noun phrase that serves as a predicate nominative or object of a preposition. As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes something insignificant or temporary when viewing data or a situation over time. It is used to diminish the importance of an event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blip on the chart" is a phrase used to describe a minor or temporary deviation that is not considered significant in the grand scheme of things. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and functions as a noun phrase, its usage is most common in the news and media. When writing, it's important to avoid overuse and be mindful of the context to ensure appropriate formality. For alternative expressions, you can use phrases like "minor fluctuation" or "small anomaly" depending on the particular context. The phrase has a neutral register but may lean towards informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor fluctuation in the data

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more technical and direct description of a small change.

small anomaly in the trend

Substitutes "blip" with "anomaly", focusing on the deviation from a regular pattern.

fleeting deviation on the graph

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the deviation using the word "fleeting".

insignificant data point

Replaces the figurative language with a literal description of the data's importance.

slight upturn in the metrics

Focuses on a positive change being small and unimportant.

temporary spike on the record

Highlights the sudden but short-lived nature of the event.

passing anomaly in the stats

Uses "passing" to show the brief existence of the irregularity.

inconsequential variation on the overview

Stresses that the change has little to no impact on the overall picture.

minimal change in the outcome

Highlights the lack of substantial effect caused by the change.

negligible difference on the assessment

Underlines that the difference is so small it can be disregarded.

FAQs

How can I use "blip on the chart" in a sentence?

You can use "blip on the chart" to describe a small, temporary change or event that is not considered significant in the larger context. For instance, "The recent sales dip was just a "blip on the chart"; overall, the quarter performed well".

What does "blip on the chart" mean?

"Blip on the chart" refers to a small, often temporary deviation in data or a minor event that is not expected to have lasting effects. It implies that something is not significant in the grand scheme of things.

What can I say instead of "blip on the chart"?

You can use alternatives like "minor fluctuation", "small anomaly", or "insignificant data point" depending on the specific context you're describing.

Is "blip on the chart" formal or informal?

"Blip on the chart" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression. While understandable in professional settings, more formal contexts might benefit from using terms like "minor deviation" or "temporary fluctuation".