scarce opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarce opportunity" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation where there few chances to do something or take advantage of something. For example, "The student had a scarce opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge on the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

One thing it certainly provides is a scarce opportunity to walk a solid distance in Manhattan (and I did a lot of walking there) without having to stop for lots and lots of cars.

The Guardian

"NCM represents a scarce opportunity for China Literature to extend its content capabilities downstream, enabling it to participate further along the IP value chain and enhance the services it can bring to its writers as well as its users.

TechCrunch

But if you view the world as having very limited opportunities for promotion, and you get rejected from this one scarce opportunity, then this rejection becomes much more significant (and potentially debilitating).

Forbes

I would recommend that the founders stay mindful of the tyranny of incrementalism— every small decision itself will feel rational, but in aggregate those decisions burn your scarce opportunity.

TechCrunch

In a world where 1.2 billion youth are unemployed across the world, wealth inequality is increasing and class divisions are deepening, work itself has become a scarce opportunity.

Huffington Post

It also includes a blogging section featuring content created by people of vastly different backgrounds, an unfortunately scarce opportunity in a region still struggling with sectarianism, authoritarianism and terrorism.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Several Hindus said quotas for Muslims were unnecessary and would dilute already scarce opportunities for lower-caste Hindus.

The New York Times

In recent years, fatal breakdowns in Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup races undermined the sport's scarce opportunities to build a fan base on television.

The New York Times - Sports

With few role models and scarce opportunities to swim, too many black children see swimming as an inaccessible and uninviting sport.

The Washington Post

A principal argument for shorter hours that gained prominence during the 1930s was the notion that scarce opportunities for gainful employment ought to be shared among the largest possible number of workers.

Britannica

Almost all the characters in "The Piano Lesson" are in uneasy transition, pushing forward into an uncertain future even as they are tugged backward by the past, caught up in the process of discovering or reinventing themselves in a country that still offers scarce opportunities for black Americans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarce opportunity" to emphasize that the chance to do something is not readily available and should be valued.

Common error

Avoid using "scarce opportunity" when simply describing a typical challenge. Reserve it for situations where the lack of opportunity is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce opportunity" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'scarce' modifies the noun 'opportunity'. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct. Examples show it describing limited availability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarce opportunity" is a grammatically correct and impactful way to describe a limited or infrequent chance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It commonly appears in news, science, and formal business contexts, highlighting situations where opportunities are not readily available. When using this phrase, remember to reserve it for scenarios where the scarcity is significant and avoid overstating its use. Consider alternatives like "limited chance" or "rare possibility" to fine-tune your meaning. To create high impact always remember that the main goal of "scarce opportunity" is to emphasize the limited availability of a chance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceedingly rare opportunity

Emphasizes the rarity and exceptionality of the opportunity.

hardly any opportunity

Directly expresses the lack of available opportunities.

limited chance

Focuses on the restricted nature of the chance, similar to "scarce opportunity".

precious chance

Highlights the value of a limited and valuable opportunity.

rare possibility

Emphasizes the infrequency of the possibility, rather than the availability of an opportunity.

infrequent occasion

Highlights the temporal aspect of the opportunity being not common.

uncommon instance

Stresses the unusual nature of the event or situation.

meager prospect

Highlights the poor or deficient quality of a future event.

slight hope

Focuses on the minimal amount of hope or expectation.

remote likelihood

Indicates a low probability of something happening.

FAQs

How can I use "scarce opportunity" in a sentence?

You can use "scarce opportunity" to describe a situation where chances or possibilities are limited, for example: "In that remote village, a good education is a "scarce opportunity"".

What is a similar phrase to "scarce opportunity"?

Similar phrases include "limited chance", "rare possibility", or "infrequent occasion". These all convey the idea of something not being readily available.

Is it better to use "rare opportunity" or "scarce opportunity"?

Both "rare opportunity" and "scarce opportunity" are valid. "Rare" emphasizes infrequency, while "scarce" emphasizes limited availability. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "scarce resources" and "scarce opportunity"?

"Scarce resources" refers to a limited availability of essential items like food, water, or money. "Scarce opportunity" refers to a limited availability of chances or possibilities.