precious little

USAGE SUMMARY

"precious little" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a very small amount of something that is appreciated or valued. For example, "With precious little free time, she chose to spend her days off relaxing with her family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Precious little.

The Economist

Precious little, by all accounts.

The Economist

Precious little, say the pessimists.

The Economist

So far, precious little has arrived.

The Economist

And there has been precious little return.

The Economist

There was structure but precious little content.

The New York Times - Arts

That leaves precious little room for disappointment.

The New York Times

Of clarity there is precious little".

The New Yorker

Precious little to celebrate there.

The Guardian - Arts

The case against Precious little.

The Guardian - Money

There is precious little left.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precious little" to emphasize the scarcity or value of something, creating a slightly more formal or sophisticated tone compared to simpler alternatives like "very little".

Common error

Avoid using "precious little" in highly informal or casual conversations where simpler phrases like "not much" or "hardly any" would be more appropriate. It can sound overly formal or pretentious in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precious little" functions as a determiner, specifically a quantifier, indicating a small amount of something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, showcasing its role in modifying nouns to express scarcity or value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "precious little" is a phrase used to emphasize the scarcity or small quantity of something, often implying that the limited amount is valuable. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a determiner and commonly appears in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, it's best suited for neutral to slightly formal settings, and may sound out of place in very informal conversations. Consider alternatives like "very little" or "hardly any" for more casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very little

Direct synonym, simply replacing "precious" with "very" for less emphasis.

next to nothing

Highlights the insignificance of the quantity.

hardly any

Indicates a small quantity, similar to "precious little" but with a slightly more informal tone.

scarcely any

Similar to "hardly any", but often used in more formal contexts.

not much

A simpler and more common way to express a lack of quantity.

almost none

Emphasizes the near absence of something.

a paucity of

A more formal and sophisticated way to express a scarcity or lack of something.

a small amount

More literal and less emphatic than "precious little".

limited quantity

Focuses on the restriction in supply or amount.

a tiny bit

Suggests an extremely small quantity, often used informally.

FAQs

How can I use "precious little" in a sentence?

You can use "precious little" to describe a very small amount of something valuable or appreciated. For example: "With "precious little" time, she chose to spend it with her family".

What's the difference between "precious little" and "very little"?

"Precious little" emphasizes the scarcity and sometimes the value of what's lacking, while "very little" is a more neutral statement about quantity. "Precious little" is also slightly more formal than "very little".

What can I say instead of "precious little"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly any", "scarcely any", or "almost none" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "precious little" formal or informal?

"Precious little" leans towards the more formal side, suggesting a degree of sophistication and emphasis on scarcity or value. Using "not much" would be more informal.