little large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little large" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used informally to describe something that is somewhat larger than expected, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "The shirt is a little large for me, but I can make it work."

News & Media

Science

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"Big or little, large or small, this pond's big enough for all," they say.

The New York Times - Books

Context suggests that the photographer's model is a woman, but the hands may be a little large.

The New York Times - Books

It has a Wiener Werkstätte elegance, but some of its randomly clustered, variegated holes seem a little large.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a little large for my bedside table, and its modern look didn't quite fit my early rummage sale décor.

The New York Times

The one I tried on ran a little large, so if you are very trim, you may need to order a size down.

The New York Times

Kardashian also admitted that despite BlackBerry releasing several new models, including the square Passport, she hadn't "actually turned it on" and that it was "a little large".

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Yet there has been relatively little large-scale development in the neighborhood.

The New York Times

There has been little large-scale housing construction in recent years, but developers are interested in the area.

The New York Times

There is very little large-scale industry; industrial estates have been established in Mashat, Khadoli, and elsewhere for producing such items as electronics, chemicals, and fabrics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rome once again had become a great consumer of imported luxuries, yet it still had little large-scale industry or commerce.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most of the archaeological work in New Jersey is cultural resource management where you can only do a limited amount before construction -- for example before a highway goes in -- so very little large-scale academic research has been done.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sizes, consider more precise terms like "slightly oversized" or "a bit too big" for clarity. Although "little large" is understood, it's not the most formal or conventional phrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "little large" when the item is actually significantly larger than expected. This phrase implies a minor difference, not a substantial one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little large" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that it's slightly bigger than desired or expected. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not always considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

24%

Lifestyle

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "little large" is a descriptive adjective phrase used to indicate that something is slightly bigger than expected. While it's understandable and common, according to Ludwig AI it's not always considered standard English, with alternatives like "slightly oversized" or "a bit too big" often preferred. The phrase appears in various contexts, from news and media to science, but tends to lean towards a neutral to informal register. While the examples are numerous, suggesting frequent use, it's crucial to consider the context and choose more precise alternatives when formal language is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly oversized

Emphasizes the size being a bit beyond the standard or expected dimension.

a bit too big

Directly indicates the size is exceeding the required or suitable measure.

somewhat large

Uses "somewhat" to soften the adjective "large", denoting a moderate degree of bigness.

marginally larger

Highlights that the difference in size is small and almost negligible.

a shade too big

Indicates that the size is only slightly over the desired dimension.

just a bit big

Uses common, informal language to convey the slight excess in size.

a touch large

Uses "touch" to express a minimal degree of excessiveness in size.

slightly ample

Implies a generous or abundant size, hinting it may be more than needed.

a trifle large

Uses "trifle" to denote a small degree of excess in size, which is somewhat archaic.

miniaturely oversized

Highlights being oversized in a small dimension or measure.

FAQs

What does "little large" mean?

The phrase "little large" generally means that something is slightly bigger than expected or desired. It implies that the size difference is not significant, but noticeable.

What can I say instead of "little large"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly oversized", "a bit too big", or "somewhat large" depending on the context.

Is "little large" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "little large" is not considered standard English. More precise alternatives like "slightly oversized" or "a bit large" are often preferred.

How do I use "little large" in a sentence?

You might say, "This shirt is a "little large" for me, but I can still wear it." However, consider using a clearer phrase such as "This shirt is "a bit too big" for me."