slightly far-fetched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly far-fetched" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an idea or concept that seems improbable or unlikely, but not completely impossible. Example: "While the plot of the movie was entertaining, some of the twists felt slightly far-fetched."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Although the scheme sounds slightly far-fetched, it chimes with a growing trend amongst technology companies to leverage vast sets of user-data in predicting future action.

Independent

Many people described this book as truly heartbreaking, and yet wonderful to read at the same time, and before opening this book up for the first time I thought it was a slightly far-fetched opinion.

The Guardian

Mr. Bloomberg and his advisers look to the electoral success of Mr. Giuliani -- a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city, a man who had never held elective office -- as a reason for confidence in what might otherwise seem a slightly far-fetched candidacy.

The New York Times

"We can identify with the Catalans and their struggle against the great power of Madrid, like the way we struggle against Israel," one supporter in Ramallah told me with a slightly far-fetched simile.

BBC

Rockstar doing an HD remake of Red Dead Redemption seems slightly far-fetched at this point, as the era of the HD remake for new-gen consoles is mostly over, and it would be a bit odd to keep doing that this late into the lifecycle of the game.

Forbes

SInn up now thegeTrump bera of VICE Canada delivered suchight to your inbox.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

You might say that the claims above sound ever-so-slightly far-fetched, that there's no possible way that any of this makes sense if you have even the vaguest understanding of science.

The Guardian

When VICE asked people for their weirdest road trip stories, we weren't exactly surprised that the reality of The Road can be even stranger and more far-fetched than the (slightly stupid) metaphor above.

Vice

When VICE asked people for their weirdest road trip stories, we weren't exactly surprised that the reality of the road can be even stranger and more far-fetched than the (slightly stupid) metaphor above.

Vice

Sound far-fetched?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It seemed far-fetched.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly far-fetched" to express a mild degree of doubt or skepticism about an idea or proposal, without completely dismissing it. This allows for a nuanced assessment, acknowledging the possibility while highlighting its improbability.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly far-fetched" when you intend to convey complete disbelief or impossibility. The 'slightly' indicates a remaining element of possibility, so a stronger term is more suitable if you are expressing utter incredulity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly far-fetched" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something as improbable or unlikely, yet not entirely impossible. Ludwig provides many examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly far-fetched" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a mild degree of improbability or unlikelihood. As indicated by Ludwig, it's appropriate across a range of contexts, particularly in news and media, where a balanced and nuanced tone is valuable. While it signals doubt, the 'slightly' component leaves room for possibility, distinguishing it from stronger expressions of disbelief. Using "slightly far-fetched" effectively involves understanding its delicate balance between skepticism and openness, making it a valuable tool for expressing measured judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat implausible

Indicates a degree of doubt or difficulty in believing something.

A bit unrealistic

Suggests that something deviates from reality or practical expectations.

Rather improbable

Emphasizes the low probability of something occurring or being true.

Hard to swallow

Implies that something is difficult to accept or believe.

A stretch of the imagination

Suggests that believing something requires considerable imaginative effort.

Questionable credibility

Highlights doubts about the truthfulness or reliability of something.

Dubious plausibility

Indicates that something is of uncertain or doubtful validity.

Strained believability

Emphasizes that something is believable only with difficulty.

Pushing the envelope of credibility

Indicates that something is close to exceeding the limits of what can be believed.

Verging on the unbelievable

Suggests that something is approaching the point of being impossible to believe.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly far-fetched" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly far-fetched" to describe ideas or scenarios that seem improbable but not entirely impossible. For instance, "His theory about the earth being flat seemed "slightly far-fetched", but he had some interesting points".

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly far-fetched"?

Alternatives include "somewhat implausible", "a bit unrealistic", or "rather improbable". Each conveys a similar sense of something being unlikely or difficult to believe. For example, instead of "That sounds "slightly far-fetched"", you could say, "That sounds "somewhat implausible"".

Is it appropriate to use "slightly far-fetched" in formal writing?

Yes, "slightly far-fetched" can be used in formal writing, especially when you want to express a measured degree of skepticism. It's more nuanced than simply saying something is 'impossible' or 'unbelievable', and this nuance can be valuable in academic or professional contexts.

What's the difference between "slightly far-fetched" and "completely far-fetched"?

"Slightly far-fetched" indicates a mild degree of improbability, suggesting that while something seems unlikely, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. "Completely far-fetched", on the other hand, means something is entirely unbelievable or impossible. The key difference lies in the degree of plausibility; the former retains a sliver of potential, while the latter does not.