slightly big

USAGE SUMMARY

"slightly big" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that is bigger than usual, but not by a substantial amount. Example: The house she bought was slightly big for her family's needs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Then there's a "teen setting" which, in a slightly Big Brother way, allows parents to keep track of young drivers by limiting their speed and their distance from home – and even by alerting mum and dad when their movement becomes erratic.

The Guardian - Business

Shirts and underwear are extra-comfortable, although I personally found sizing in shirts to run slightly big (it suggests you go up a size if you're unsure).

TechCrunch

Change into one of his shirts that is slightly big but leave your pants on.

WikiHow

The best way to sew it is by folding the cloth, which is why you need a slightly big piece of cloth.

WikiHow

Choose bright colors with black and white phrases like LOVE and in the fall and winter wear slightly big unbuttoned button up shirts and loose cardigans in blue and grey.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Males are only slightly bigger, at 6.5kg.

Independent

We like to tell slightly bigger stories.

The New York Times

The second is a slightly bigger drawback.

The New York Times - Tech

Morstead, although slightly bigger, is similarly focused.

The New York Times - Sports

We decided slightly bigger was slightly better, overall.

The Guardian

Why? Jamaica is just slightly bigger than Brooklyn.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing clothing sizes, specify measurements alongside "slightly big" to give a clearer picture. For example: "The shirt was slightly big, about an inch too wide at the shoulders."

Common error

Avoid using "slightly big" if the difference in size is significant. "Slightly" indicates a minor degree; using it for substantial size differences can be misleading and inaccurate.

Linguistic Context

Adjectival phrase modifying a noun. "Slightly" functions as an adverb intensifying the adjective "big". According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. The phrase describes something that exceeds the standard size by a small amount.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly big" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe something that is a bit larger than expected, but not significantly so. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While its usage frequency is rare, it is mostly present in news, media and wiki contents. When greater precision is required, synonyms like ""a bit large"" or ""somewhat large"" can be considered. Be careful not to use it when the size difference is considerable, as it implies a minor degree.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit large

Emphasizes the largeness as being just a bit over the expected or standard size.

somewhat large

Indicates a moderate degree of largeness, more formal than "a bit".

marginally bigger

Highlights the small margin by which something exceeds the standard size.

fractionally larger

Focuses on the idea that the increase in size is only a fraction of the original size.

minutely oversized

Stresses the extremely small degree of being oversized.

a shade too big

Implies the size is just beyond what is ideal or preferable.

ever so slightly big

Emphasizes the subtlety of the increase in size.

barely bigger

Indicates the increase in size is at the very edge of being noticeable.

just a little large

Highlights the minor increase in size in a casual manner.

almost too big

Conveys the idea that something is approaching being overly large.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly big" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly big" to describe something that's a bit larger than expected, but not excessively so. For example, "The shirt I ordered was "slightly big", but still wearable."

What's a good alternative to "slightly big"?

Alternatives include "a bit large", "somewhat large", or "marginally bigger", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "slightly big" or "a little big"?

"Slightly big" and "a little big" are very similar in meaning, but "slightly big" might sound a touch more formal. Use whichever fits the tone of your writing or conversation.

When should I not use the phrase "slightly big"?

Avoid using "slightly big" if the size difference is more than just a small amount. In such cases, consider using stronger terms like "considerably larger" or "significantly bigger".