lacking of frills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lacking of frills" is not correct in English.
The correct expression is "lacking frills." You can use it to describe something that is simple, straightforward, or without unnecessary embellishments. Example: "The design of the furniture is lacking frills, making it both functional and elegant."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Mach's industrial design won't bring home many rewards, but it's nice, well proportioned (at 12.2mm, it's pretty slim for a slider), and largely lacking of frills.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There's just something very true and honest about that directness, that lack of frills.

The Guardian - Music

All holidays need a little spirit of the blitz and my childhood holidays were consistent in their lack of frills.

The Guardian - Travel

He said he gives to the organization because of its low administrative costs and lack of frills.

The New York Times

But the draw, as ever, is the high musicianship, the lack of frills, and the searing soul-baring of the company's star, Soledad Barrio.

The New Yorker

37, rue Saint-Sauveur; 011-33-1-45-08-88-09. DIVE Scenester centrat (this minute, at least), Andy Wahloo makes up for its lack of frills with beautiful faces.

The New York Times - Style

And yet it is this lack of frills and modern conveniences that has allowed Guyana to keep its unique, unspoiled beauty, in a way that other South and Central American countries have not.

The New York Times - Travel

To hear the newest Patriots explain it, the main reason they chose New England over other destinations during free agency was Belichick's lack of frills and his penchant for molding defenses.

The New York Times - Sports

The lack of frills.

Los Angeles Times

But overall I was taken with the book's terseness and lack of frills, its day-by-day journaling of the O.J. phenomenon that is suspenseful even though we all know exactly how the story is going to turn out.

Huffington Post

The appeal of Chopra and Tolle is found in both men's immense knowledge of and experience with spiritual awakening and yet a real lack of frills and glam to obscure the clear path towards finding meaning and fulfillment in life.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lacking frills" or "without frills" instead of "lacking of frills" for grammatically correct and clear communication. This avoids an unnecessary preposition.

Common error

The phrase "lacking of" is often mistakenly used due to interference from similar constructions. Remember that "lacking" already implies absence, so the "of" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Always opt for "lacking frills".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lacking of frills" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, attempting to modify a noun by indicating the absence of ornamentation or unnecessary additions. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, the construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lacking of frills" is understandable, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form is "lacking frills" or "without frills". The phrase aims to describe something as simple and unadorned. Although examples exist across various sources like TechCrunch, The Guardian and The New York Times, its rarity and grammatical incorrectness suggest avoiding it in formal writing. Instead, opt for alternatives such as "devoid of frills" or "simple and unpretentious" to convey the intended meaning more effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without frills

A more concise and grammatically correct alternative, directly conveying the absence of unnecessary embellishments.

devoid of frills

Replaces "lacking of" with "devoid of", offering a more formal tone while maintaining the core meaning.

bereft of frills

Similar to "devoid of frills", but "bereft of" suggests a stronger sense of absence.

lacking embellishment

A more formal and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the absence of ornamentation.

simple and unpretentious

Emphasizes honesty and a lack of affectation.

unadorned

Focuses on the absence of decoration, suitable when discussing aesthetics.

minimalist

Implies a deliberate design choice to exclude unnecessary elements.

plain

A simple and direct alternative, emphasizing the lack of complexity or extravagance.

austere

Suggests a severe lack of ornamentation, often implying a sense of discipline or restraint.

basic

Highlights the essential nature of something, without extra features.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "lacking of frills"?

No, the correct phrase is "lacking frills" or "without frills". The preposition "of" is unnecessary and makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

What does "lacking frills" mean?

It means something is simple, basic, and without unnecessary decoration or embellishments. Synonyms include "unadorned", "plain", or "minimalist".

How can I use "lacking frills" in a sentence?

Example: "The design of the product is "lacking frills", focusing instead on functionality." or "The restaurant offered a dining experience "without frills", prioritizing good food over fancy décor."

What are some alternatives to "lacking frills"?

You can use phrases like "devoid of frills", "bereft of frills", or "simple and unpretentious" to convey a similar meaning.