slim to none

USAGE SUMMARY

'slim to none' is a common phrase used in written English and spoken English.
It is used to describe a very small or nonexistent chance of something happening. For example, "The chances of winning this lottery are slim to none."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Slim to none".

The New York Times - Science

Those chances now seem slim to none.

The New York Times

The mileage penalty is slim to none.

The New York Times

"Your chances of winning are slim to none".

The New York Times

With little in common, the probability of them meeting is slim to none.

Yale University

Toxics monitoring is slim to none in some of these areas.

Stanford University

The odds of them getting a ticket are slim to none".

The New York Times

My job prospects are slim to none with my current state of health.

The New York Times

The chances of finding alternative benefactors, he says, range from slim to none.

The New York Times

The prospects for major improvements in college costs and financial aid are slim to none.

The New York Times

But the chances of them getting through Congress are slim to none.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slim to none" when you want to emphasize that the possibility of something happening is extremely low or practically nonexistent. It adds a touch of informal emphasis.

Common error

While "slim to none" is widely understood, it's best reserved for less formal writing or speech. In strictly formal contexts, opt for phrases like "highly improbable" or "virtually impossible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slim to none" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (usually 'chance', 'odds', 'possibility', or 'prospects'), indicating a minimal or nonexistent likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms its role in describing very small or nonexistent chances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slim to none" is a common and widely understood idiomatic expression used to convey that the probability of something happening is extremely low. As Ludwig AI suggests, the expression effectively communicates a minimal or nonexistent chance. It is generally considered grammatically correct and finds frequent use in news, media, and informal conversations. While versatile, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "highly improbable" in strictly formal writing. The expression's consistent appearance across diverse sources underscores its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

next to impossible

Similar to "slim to none", but places greater stress on difficulty.

no chance whatsoever

Emphasizes the complete lack of opportunity or possibility.

virtually impossible

Emphasizes impossibility more strongly than "slim to none".

out of the question

Indicates something is not worth considering because it is impossible or unacceptable.

almost nonexistent

Highlights the near absence of something.

highly improbable

Focuses on the low probability of something occurring.

vanishingly small

Describes a probability as extremely small, close to zero.

not a chance

More direct and informal way of expressing no possibility.

a snowball's chance in hell

An idiomatic expression indicating extremely low odds.

barely any

Indicates a minimal amount or likelihood.

FAQs

How do I use "slim to none" in a sentence?

You can use "slim to none" to describe chances or probabilities that are extremely low. For example, "The chances of finding a parking spot downtown at this hour are "slim to none"."

What's a more formal alternative to "slim to none"?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "highly improbable" or "virtually impossible" instead of "slim to none".

Is "slim to none" grammatically correct?

Yes, "slim to none" is a grammatically correct and commonly used idiomatic expression in English.

What does "slim to none" mean?

"Slim to none" means that the possibility of something happening is very low or practically nonexistent, implying that it's unlikely to occur.