rather too big

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather too big" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is excessively large or bigger than desired, often with a slightly formal or literary tone. Example: "The dress was rather too big for her, requiring several alterations before the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Went rather too big there, did Evans.

The Guardian - Sport

Dreams of Violence is rather too big a title for Stella Feehily's dark, skittish, sharply phrased new play.

The Guardian

The cylinder is rather too big for the area it inhabits, although there is plenty of breathing space on the south side.

The New Yorker

He soon began to feel sidelined by his former commander-in-chief.Mr Rajapaksa, for his part, had come to think that the outspoken commander was getting rather too big for his army boots.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Rather, too-big-to-fail firms should be subjected to much higher capital requirements so they can better absorb their potential outsize losses.

The New York Times

People are at least twice as likely to buy shoes that are too small rather than too big.[6].

WikiHow

That may be a bit of wishful thinking on the part of a company that owns Kmart, one of the world's largest retailers, but at least it's thinking small rather than thinking too big.

TechCrunch

Deza replies, "Rather too many teeth and too big a jaw, but she's still rather pretty.

The New Yorker

Wasn't the whole point of the bedroom tax that the Conservatives thought some people on benefits were living in houses that were too big rather than too small?

The Guardian

It has a section on slimming, which is good, but it's a bit too big, rather like reading a novel.

The Guardian - Money

If you think your D.C. digs are too big rather than too small, you will want to head to Wangari Gardens this weekend.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather too big", consider the context. It often implies a subjective judgment about size rather than an objective measurement. Make sure your sentence clearly indicates what the item in question is "too big" for.

Common error

Avoid using "rather too big" in very informal situations, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "too big" or "a bit too large" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather too big" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the adjective "big" to indicate that something exceeds the desired or appropriate size. As shown in Ludwig, the phrase often expresses a subjective assessment rather than an objective measurement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather too big" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to express that something is excessively large. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's considered correct and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While not extremely common, it provides a nuanced way to express a judgment about size, often implying a negative consequence or inconvenience. When writing, consider the formality of the situation, as "rather too big" is best suited for neutral to slightly formal contexts. Consider also the alternatives, such as "somewhat oversized" and "slightly too large", to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly too large

This alternative is more direct and less formal than the original phrase.

somewhat oversized

This alternative uses a single word to convey the meaning of being larger than necessary.

a little too sizable

This alternative uses "sizable" instead of "big", providing a slightly more formal tone.

excessively large

This alternative emphasizes the degree of largeness, indicating it's beyond what is acceptable.

rather too immense

Replaces "big" with "immense" for emphasis, indicating extreme size.

a bit too expansive

This suggests something is more extensive than ideal, often in a metaphorical sense.

somewhat too substantial

Emphasizes the size with the implication of weight or significance.

disproportionately big

This suggests that the size is not in harmony with other aspects.

unnecessarily large

This phrase indicates that the size is bigger than what is needed or useful.

quite too bulky

This implies that something is large and unwieldy.

FAQs

How can I use "rather too big" in a sentence?

You can use "rather too big" to describe something that exceeds the ideal or expected size. For example, "The coat was "rather too big" for her, so she had to get it altered."

What's a more formal way to say "rather too big"?

More formal alternatives include "excessively large" or "disproportionately sized". The best choice depends on the specific context and what aspect of the size you want to emphasize.

Is "rather too big" always negative?

While "rather too big" often implies a negative connotation (something is inconveniently or inappropriately large), it can sometimes be neutral. For instance, "The container was "rather too big", but at least we had enough space for everything."

What are some alternatives to "rather too big" for describing clothing?

For clothing, you might say "somewhat oversized", "slightly too large", or "a bit baggy". The best alternative depends on the specific fit and style of the garment.