much too steep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much 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 much too steep for us to climb without proper gear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These days the cost of launching a site is much too steep for an independent bookseller.

The Guardian

In the event, the poling couldn't warm me up, and the race piste was much too steep.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There are no giraffes (because there are no acacia trees, their main diet) and no young or female elephants, which find the slopes too steep; but pretty much everything else can be spotted there, including the rare black rhino.

The Guardian - Travel

Most analysts had been arguing that the Pricewaterhouse asking price was too steep -- a deal worth as much as $18 billion had been discussed in September -- and many feared that Hewlett-Packard would find that absorbing 31,000 consultants was too distracting.

The New York Times

Kristoffer is a funny caricature of the kind of humorless actor, steeped in theory, who takes his job much too seriously.

The New York Times

Leaders of the Santa Ynez Band say that much of its 138-acre reservation is on a riverbank or a slope too steep to build on.

Los Angeles Times

— NATE SILVER Entrance polls and very easy voting tabulations don't always tell you much about who is winning — but they can tell you something about who has too steep a hill to climb.

The New York Times

Old familiar steep and narrow staircase, old familiar pictures: the print of Ibsen; the print of the overfed, much too contented cat; the cherished oils of beach and woods by friends and neighbors.

The New Yorker

Maybe too steep.

The New York Times

Republicans termed the revenue demands too steep.

The Economist

Its capital requirements are too steep.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical inclines, ensure that using "much too steep" accurately conveys the excessive nature of the slope. Consider whether alternative phrasing like "prohibitively inclined" might be more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "much too steep" when describing emotional challenges or abstract concepts where the metaphor of a physical incline doesn't logically apply. For instance, saying "the learning curve was much too steep for him emotionally" is inaccurate. Instead consider using other alternatives, like saying "the learning curve was "way too difficult"" or "challenging".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much too steep" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the adjective "steep." Ludwig AI confirms its usability, typically describing something exceeding a reasonable limit, such as the slope of a hill or the cost of an item.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Travel

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much too steep" is an adjectival phrase used to describe something that is excessively inclined, expensive, or difficult. Ludwig AI confirms that its common use spans various contexts, especially in news and travel writing, although it remains relatively rare overall. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately conveys the intended degree of excessiveness and aligns with the context, avoiding misuse in abstract or illogical scenarios. Alternative phrases like "prohibitively expensive" or "excessively inclined" might provide greater precision depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far too inclined

Replaces "steep" with "inclined" and "much" with "far", emphasizing the degree of inclination.

excessively angled

Substitutes "steep" with "angled" and "much too" with "excessively", focusing on the angle of inclination.

prohibitively expensive

Changes the context to cost, replacing "steep" with "expensive" and "much too" with "prohibitively", indicating unaffordability.

overly difficult

Shifts the focus to difficulty, substituting "steep" with "difficult" and "much too" with "overly", highlighting the high level of challenge.

way too sharp

Replaces "much" with "way" and "steep" with "sharp", implying a drastic or sudden change.

unacceptably high

Changes "steep" to "high" and "much too" to "unacceptably", suggesting a level that exceeds acceptable limits.

extremely overpriced

Combines the concepts of price and excessiveness, replacing "steep" with "overpriced" and "much too" with "extremely".

impossibly arduous

Emphasizes the difficulty aspect, replacing "steep" with "arduous" and "much too" with "impossibly", indicating a task that is nearly unachievable.

unfeasibly inclined

Replaces "steep" with "inclined" and "much too" with "unfeasibly", suggesting the inclination is not practical or possible.

considerably elevated

Substitutes "steep" with "elevated" and "much too" with "considerably", focusing on a significant increase in height or level.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "much too steep"?

The phrase "much too steep" is appropriate when describing something that is excessively inclined, like a hill, a price, or a challenge. Ensure the context clearly relates to a gradient or a scale of difficulty.

What are some alternatives to saying something is "much too steep"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "prohibitively expensive" for prices, "overly difficult" for challenges, or "excessively inclined" for slopes.

Is there a difference between "too steep" and "much too steep"?

"Too steep" indicates that something exceeds a reasonable level of inclination or difficulty. "Much too steep" intensifies this, emphasizing that it is excessively or unacceptably steep.

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

Yes, "much too steep" can be used metaphorically to describe prices, demands, or challenges that are considered excessively high or difficult. However, ensure the metaphor is appropriate and clear.