smidge

USAGE SUMMARY

"smidge" is an informal word that is used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a small amount of something, usually a liquid or powder. For example: "I only need a smidge of sugar in my tea."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The long skirt – not just a smidge below the knee, which has always been a thing, but almost to the floor – is vying with Twin Peaks to be to 2015 what Kate Bush was to last year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I make that a smidge over 30% loss rate – has anyone ever won their league with a higher loss percentage?" "After a plunge into the RSSSF archive," begins the proflic Clayton Freeman, "I can confirm that it's happened a number of times.

The Guardian - Sport

And even if all these concerns can be brushed aside, turnout in the run-off was estimated at just a smidge higher than the 22% registered in the first round.

The Economist

Top-condition early auto coupés with 60,000 miles on the clock start at a smidge over £30,000 from a private seller.

Independent

Working in damp, cold, hostile environment filled with grumpy, exam-stressed students sounds a smidge less appealing than surrounding yourself with homemade food and family while revising.

Independent

Classic rock radio had given me a canon, and Top 40 acts I loved, like Heatwave and Silver Convention, were not represented in a small British book aimed at widening the canon a smidge but no more.

The New Yorker

I pushed one nipple a smidge off center, and left the other one alone, and then made the pubic triangle more like the bicycle-seat shape it really was.

The New Yorker

Like Tiger, and seemingly most other players on tour, Scott and Rose are forever in lesson mode: fearful of crossing the line on their backswing, of getting stuck inside, of the left elbow being a smidge out of position on the takeaway, throwing the whole process into doubt.

The New Yorker

Dead, that's who, and also: not a smidge of lipstick.

The New Yorker

They didn't protest a smidge.

Independent

It lets retailers honestly claim, for example, that a snack package contains fewer calories — without having to change the ingredients a smidge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smidge" to add a touch of informality to your writing, making it more relatable and less stiff.

Common error

Avoid using "smidge" in formal reports or academic papers, where a more precise or professional term like "small amount" or "trace" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "smidge" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a small amount or quantity of something. This is evident in the Ludwig examples, where "smidge" is often followed by "of" and a substance, like "a smidge of bisque".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Lifestyle

20%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smidge" is an informal noun that refers to a small amount of something. Ludwig's examples show it's frequently used in News & Media, Lifestyle, and Sports contexts. While grammatically correct, it's best to avoid "smidge" in formal settings. Ludwig AI highlights its use to soften requests or instructions. Consider alternatives like "a tiny bit" or "small amount" for more formal writing. Remember that "smidge" is a versatile term to express minimal quantities in conversational English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tiny bit

Uses more common and less colloquial terms.

a small amount

Replaces the informal term with a more general phrase.

a trace

Implies an even smaller quantity than "smidge".

a dash

Commonly used for adding a small amount of something, particularly in cooking or mixing liquids.

a pinch

Typically used for solids, but can convey a similar small quantity.

a speck

Refers to a very small spot or particle.

a jot

A slightly more formal alternative, implying a minimal quantity.

a modicum

A more formal term for a small quantity, often used in more serious contexts.

an iota

Implies an extremely small, almost insignificant amount.

a soupçon

A French loanword, indicating a small amount, often used in culinary contexts or to imply sophistication.

FAQs

How to use "smidge" in a sentence?

You can use "smidge" to indicate a small quantity of something. For example, "Add just a "tiny bit" of salt to the sauce" or "Could you move a "small amount" to the left?".

What can I say instead of "smidge"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a tiny bit", "a small amount", or "a trace".

Is "smidge" formal or informal?

"Smidge" is an informal term. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise terms like "small quantity" or "modicum".

What's the difference between "smidge" and "smidgen"?

"Smidge" and "smidgen" are essentially interchangeable. Both refer to a small amount of something, but "smidgen" might be slightly more common.