half to spare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half to spare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that there is a portion of something remaining after a certain amount has been used or allocated. Example: "I finished the project with half an hour to spare, allowing me to review my work before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He bailed out with a second and a half to spare, then went back to the office.

The New Yorker

Essex paceman Reece Topley claimed a career-best match haul of 11-85 to help finish off Worcestershire with a day and a half to spare at Chelmsford.

BBC

The left-armer then picked up the final two wickets in his next over to complete a remarkable win with more than a day and a half to spare.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although the Test was won with a day-and-a-half to spare, England's batting remains a concern after collapses in both innings.

BBC

(If you have a day-and-a-half to spare, you can watch the world's slowest boner below).

Vice

I got to Munich International with an extra half hour to spare.

The New Yorker

A double feature might be just the thing, if you have five and a half hours to spare.

The New York Times

He arrives there with a half-hour to spare for his 8 a.m. class at the University of Bridgeport.

The New York Times

Each house can accommodate five residents, allowing each person a bedroom and a bathroom (with a half-bath to spare).

The New York Times

On March 9, 2011, with time running down and Tony Allen in his personal space, Anthony hopped to his left, lofted a 20-footer and beat the Memphis Grizzlies with a half-second to spare.

The New York Times - Sports

Gary Neville, who had been out of the first team with a groin injury since the end of January, was selected at centre-half initially to spare him being exposed to the pace of Ashley Young as a right-back.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "half to spare" to emphasize that there was some leeway or extra capacity available, but not necessarily a large amount.

Common error

Avoid using "half to spare" when there was significantly more than half remaining, as this can be misleading. Choose a more accurate descriptor like "plenty of time" or "ample time" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half to spare" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the extent to which something exceeds the minimum requirement. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to describe the remaining amount of something, typically time, after a task is completed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half to spare" is a phrase used to indicate that something was accomplished with a moderate amount of time or resources remaining. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources. While not a highly frequent expression, it effectively conveys a sense of comfortable completion without significant excess. When using the phrase, consider whether it accurately reflects the degree of leeway and choose alternative expressions when appropriate. Its function is adverbial, its purpose is to show completion with margin and its register is neutral.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Time to spare

Focuses specifically on having remaining time.

Extra time available

Highlights the availability of additional time.

Remaining time

Emphasizes the portion of time that is left.

Additional time available

Similar to 'extra time' but slightly more formal.

Surplus time

Indicates an excess of time beyond what's needed.

Buffer time

Suggests a reserve of time to accommodate unexpected delays.

Free time remaining

Highlights the remaining time is not scheduled.

Unallocated time

Suggests time that has not been assigned to any specific task.

A margin of time

Implies a safety net in terms of scheduling.

Leeway available

Highlights the flexibility in timing.

FAQs

How can I use "half to spare" in a sentence?

You can use "half to spare" to indicate that something was completed with some time or resources remaining, but not an excessive amount. For example, "I finished the exam with "half to spare", so I had time to review my answers".

What's a similar phrase to "half to spare"?

Similar phrases include "time to spare", "extra time", or "remaining time". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "half an hour to spare" or "half to spare"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "half an hour to spare" is more specific. "Half to spare" is generally used when the unit is already understood or implied in the context.

In what situations is "half to spare" most appropriate?

"Half to spare" is appropriate when you want to convey that something was done with a moderate amount of buffer or leeway, neither cutting it close nor having a significant excess. It's a middle ground between barely making it and having "plenty of time".