grazing a wall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grazing a wall" is not commonly used in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be used in a context where something is lightly touching or brushing against a wall, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "As the car turned the corner, its side was grazing a wall, leaving a faint scratch."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Granted, I did not mind donning plastic shoe covers to shuffle through the living room or surrendering my purse to minimize the possibility of grazing a wall.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Two years ago, a resource officer in Michigan negligently fired his.380 Sig Sauer semiautomatic handgun, sending a round through a wall and ricocheting around a classroom — occupied by 30 students — until the bullet grazed a teacher's neck, leaving a scratch.

The Washington Post

In the test session's only crash, Denny Hamlin grazed the wall after a mechanical failure.

The New York Times

In practice this month, Castroneves grazed the wall near Turn 1 on consecutive days.

The New York Times - Sports

Soon, we can raise ourselves skyward so gradually that we just graze the wall with our feet, steady ourselves, and then settle in for 15 or 20 breaths.

The New York Times

If an attacker fires a shot and it hits the wall the projectile has the potential to graze the wall and run about 1 - 6" from the wall until it finds a target.

WikiHow

They were grazing in a pasture a half mile away.

The New York Times - Travel

A cow grazing in a distant field.

The New Yorker

New Age music and sounds of waterfalls and birds are piped in, and what seems to be the shadows of trees graze the walls.

The New York Times

On the wall above the crib, the Carrolls have used stickers to create an abstract image of a jungle that includes a miniature lion and a pair of giraffes grazing under a radiant orange sun.

The New York Times

We reach the falls by descending on a footpath, past sheep grazing on a field of cabbages, early morning dew and damp stone walls.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a light or glancing contact with a wall, consider using more common and readily understood phrases such as "brushing against a wall" or "lightly touching a wall" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on phrases like "grazing a wall" in formal writing. While grammatically correct, they may sound awkward or unnatural to many readers. Opt for more standard expressions to ensure clear communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grazing a wall" functions as a descriptive phrase, denoting a light or glancing contact between an object and a wall. According to Ludwig AI, it's not a standard expression, and examples show it describing physical contact, though other similar expressions might be more common.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grazing a wall" is a grammatically acceptable but infrequent expression used to describe a light contact with a wall. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a standard expression, and more common alternatives like "brushing against a wall" may be preferable for clarity. While authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Washington Post have used the phrase, its rarity suggests it's best reserved for specific descriptive contexts. When writing, consider whether a more common alternative would better convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grazing the surface of a wall

This phrase expands on the original by specifying "the surface", adding clarity.

brushing against a wall

This alternative uses a more common verb, "brushing", to convey the act of lightly touching a wall.

lightly touching a wall

This phrase replaces "grazing" with "lightly touching", making the action more explicit and easily understood.

nicking a wall

This alternative suggests a slight, perhaps unintentional contact with a wall, implying a minor impact.

skimming a wall

This option implies a swift and light passing motion along the surface of a wall.

glancing off a wall

This suggests a deflection or slight redirection of movement upon contact with the wall.

scraping along a wall

This suggests a more audible or forceful contact, where something is dragged along the wall.

coming close to the wall

This alternative shifts the focus to proximity rather than direct contact, indicating nearness without necessarily touching.

nearly touching a wall

Similar to "coming close", this highlights the near-miss aspect of the contact.

marginally contacting a wall

This option uses more formal language, "marginally contacting", to express minimal contact.

FAQs

What does "grazing a wall" mean?

The phrase "grazing a wall" describes a situation where something lightly touches or brushes against a wall. It implies a minimal or glancing contact.

What can I say instead of "grazing a wall"?

You can use alternatives like "brushing against a wall", "lightly touching a wall", or "skimming a wall" depending on the context.

Is "grazing a wall" grammatically correct?

Yes, "grazing a wall" is grammatically correct, but it's not a very common or widely recognized phrase. Therefore, using alternative phrasings might be a better choice.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "grazing a wall"?

The phrase "grazing a wall" could be appropriate in descriptive writing where you want to convey a subtle and delicate contact. However, in technical or formal contexts, clearer alternatives are preferred.