far too steep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far too steep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively steep, often in reference to a slope, price, or difficulty level. Example: "The hill was far too steep for us to climb without proper gear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The cuts in the package are far too steep.

The New York Times

While the price is far too steep for us, the books contains hundreds of iconic shots.

Independent

With 71 league places between them and their Premiership opponents, League Two's Rochdale found they had far too steep a mountain to climb.

The Guardian - Sport

Eventually we began to climb, walking straight up inclines that looked far too steep to walk up, then stopped for a break in a clearing.

The New York Times - Travel

It looked far too steep for any construction, but a few islanders had nevertheless built huts right onto rocky ledges or the openings of small caves.

The New York Times - Travel

Various pool builders and engineers Ms. Sassaman consulted told her that her site was far too steep for a pool, until David Tisherman, a luxury pool designer, agreed to build it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Whiteface in those days was summed up in six words: too far, too cold, too steep.

The New York Times - Sports

But it was, finally, a journey too far, a hill too steep, a dozen minutes too many.

Los Angeles Times

That's real progress: it's about 1 C (1.8 F) less than business as usual, but still far too high.We need deeper, steeper, and earlier reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The latter would be particularly damaging because at a time when human-caused emission levels are still far too high, it would require even steeper cuts to fossil fuel use and deforestation than currently contemplated.

The Washington Post

Sugar prices in the United States are far too high for that — and this country imposes a steep tariff that discourages ethanol imports from Brazil.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a metaphorical obstacle, such as a price or requirement, ensure the context makes sense. For instance, "The entry fee was "far too steep" for most attendees".

Common error

Avoid using "far too steep" when you simply mean "difficult" or "challenging" without an element of inclination or excessive increase. A task may be difficult, but not necessarily "steep".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far too steep" functions as an intensifying adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by emphasizing the extreme degree of its steepness. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far too steep" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that something is excessively inclined or challenging. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, though it's appropriate for both formal and informal settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the context appropriately implies a sense of physical or metaphorical inclination. Alternatives such as "excessively inclined" or "prohibitively expensive" may provide nuanced meaning depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much too inclined

Uses "much too" in place of "far too" and "inclined" as a substitute for "steep".

overly precipitous

Substitutes "far too" with "overly" and "steep" with "precipitous", both indicating an extreme degree of slope.

excessively inclined

Replaces the intensifier "far too" with "excessively" and "steep" with its synonym "inclined", emphasizing the gradient.

impossibly vertical

Emphasizes the extreme nature of the slope or angle with "impossibly", replacing "steep" with "vertical".

unfeasibly angled

Replaces "steep" with "angled", highlighting the degree of inclination is not realistically possible.

extremely sharp

Replaces "steep" with "sharp", which can describe angles, turns, or prices that are excessively high.

way too challenging

Substitutes "steep" with "challenging", altering the meaning to indicate excessive difficulty rather than physical gradient.

prohibitively overpriced

Shifts the meaning from a physical gradient to a cost that is too high, using "prohibitively" to strengthen "overpriced".

unacceptably high

Replaces "steep" with "high", shifting the meaning to an unacceptable level or amount, applicable to prices or demands.

excessively exorbitant

Changes the context to indicate excessive cost, with "exorbitant" replacing "steep" to describe price.

FAQs

What does "far too steep" mean?

The phrase "far too steep" indicates that something is excessively inclined or difficult to overcome, often referring to a slope, price, or challenge.

What can I say instead of "far too steep"?

You can use alternatives like "excessively inclined", "overly precipitous", or "prohibitively expensive" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "far too steep"?

Yes, "far too steep" is grammatically correct. The adverb "far" modifies "too", which in turn modifies the adjective "steep", creating a compound adjective phrase.

Can "far too steep" be used in contexts other than physical inclines?

Yes, "far too steep" can be used metaphorically to describe prices, demands, or challenges that are excessively high or difficult. For example, "The requirements for the job were "way too challenging"".