delivered the minimum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delivered the minimum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone has provided the least amount required or expected in a situation, such as a task or performance. Example: "In the project review, it was clear that the team delivered the minimum, meeting only the basic requirements without any additional effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But unfortunately most of the people that went out and used the tools took the shortest distance between two points, and delivered the minimum.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Not that markets are a bad thing, just that on their own they do not deliver the minimum social values of fairness, lawfulness and decent administration.

The Guardian - Books

Instead, the Court of Appeals essentially reinstated an expansive 2001 decision by the original trial judge, Leland DeGrasse, that the state was constitutionally obligated to deliver the minimum of a high school education.

The New York Times

Minimum-income guarantees offer a substantial benefit, but this makes them correspondingly expensive.Getting round the fickle stateThe strategy used by Chile to avoid this potential liability is to set contribution rates at levels that are a good deal higher than would normally be needed to deliver the minimum pension.

The Economist

To deliver the minimum total entropy generation rate, optimum values for some parameters are also found.

Energy Conversion and Management

Carat Media's director of national broadcast, Andrew Donchin, points out that any increase in audience at least ensures that broadcasters will deliver the minimum number of viewers that they guarantee to advertisers over a monthly or quarterly period.

Forbes

The primary goal of the network operators, on the other hand, is to make sure that transmission lines operate efficiently and reliably as it delivers the minimum cost generation to end users.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As ex-state legislator Tom Hayden noted in The Nation this month," voter approval of the Democratic-controlled legislature slinks along between nine and twenty percent...Despite majorities in both houses and control of all statewide offices, the Democratic Party seems chronically unable to deliver the minimum that voters want from their government: results.

Huffington Post

Several respondents suggested that training should be decentralized to lower level health units in order to strengthen the critical linkages needed between the community and the health system and to better prepare students to deliver the Minimum Package of Health Services of cost effective interventions high impact interventions to serve the primary needs of the Ugandan population [ 16].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

It was a requirement that health professionals who delivered the program meet minimum musculoskeletal knowledge requirements.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In an environment with infinite buffer resources and bandwidth, this protocol provides an optimal solution, since it delivers all the bundles that can possibly be delivered in the minimum amount of time.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delivered the minimum", consider whether you want to convey a sense of adequacy or a lack of ambition. The phrase can be neutral, but often carries a slightly negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "delivered the minimum" when you intend to express excellence or exceeding expectations. This phrase is best suited for situations where the bare minimum was sufficient or, conversely, where more was expected but not achieved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delivered the minimum" typically functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of providing or achieving the least amount required. It is used to describe the extent to which a specific goal or expectation has been met. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase's usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

44%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delivered the minimum" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that conveys the idea of fulfilling only the basic requirements or expectations. While Ludwig confirms its validity, it's important to be aware of its potential negative connotation, as it often implies a lack of ambition or effort beyond the bare minimum. The phrase appears in various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications, but is less prevalent in highly formal or celebratory settings. Consider alternatives such as "offered the bare minimum" or "met the bottom line" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offered the bare minimum

Implies providing the absolute least amount possible to satisfy a requirement.

provided the baseline

Suggests meeting a fundamental standard, with emphasis on setting a low boundary.

met the bottom line

Focuses on achieving the lowest acceptable outcome or result.

satisfied the basic criteria

Highlights fulfilling essential conditions or requirements.

complied with the minimum standards

Emphasizes adherence to the lowest acceptable levels of performance or quality.

fulfilled the minimal obligations

Underscores the act of meeting only the required duties or responsibilities.

did the least possible

Focuses on expending the smallest amount of effort or resources.

achieved the rock-bottom target

Implies achieving the lowest acceptable goal.

executed the elementary requirements

Stresses carrying out only the most fundamental needs.

supplied the rudimentary level

Denotes offering the most basic, undeveloped form of something.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "delivered the minimum"?

It means they provided or achieved only the least amount required or expected, without exceeding the basic requirements.

How can I use "delivered the minimum" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team delivered the minimum, barely meeting the project deadline" to indicate they completed the project but did not go above and beyond.

What are some alternative phrases to "delivered the minimum"?

You can use alternatives like "offered the bare minimum", "met the bottom line", or "satisfied the basic criteria" depending on the context.

Is "delivered the minimum" a formal or informal expression?

It's a relatively neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it often carries a slightly negative connotation in professional settings.