strung thin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strung thin" is not a standard expression in written English, but it can be understood in context.
It can be used to describe something that is stretched or extended to a point of being fragile or weak, often referring to emotions or resources. Example: "After weeks of stress and little sleep, I felt my patience was strung thin."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

the heavier pipes and started painstakingly stringing thin wire in.

Forbes

She uses string, thin rods and cut-out bits of wood and festoons them with small objects and widely available images, often cut from books or magazines.

The New York Times

There are string-thin noodles combined with Hong-Kong-style clear broth and delicate shrimp-watercress dumplings at Sifu Chio in Flushing, Queens; a mile away, a Shanghai-style noodle shop, Da Jiang Nan Bei, serves thick house-made noodles in a sweat-inducing, chili-red soup thick with beef and preserved mustard greens.

The New York Times - Food

Asian commerce, for much of history, has formed no dense fabric but rather thin ribbons strung out along the Silk Road and along Asian coasts and island chains.

The Economist

With a large enginelike, heartlike chunk of metal suspended from chains strung to an impossibly thin rectangular scaffolding of steel, "Chaino" is a dour, macabre, furious thing.

The New York Times - Arts

Laura Davis Call of Duty: Ghosts *** Xbox 360 (tested), PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PC (£54.99) Call of Duty: Ghosts arms itself with a single-player campaign, strung together with a thin plot that (unbelievably) casts the US as plucky underdog.

Independent

"It is essentially a visual version of Vogue, strung together by a thin plot made up of pretentious dialogue," says Bede Cheng, senior program manager at Metroplex Cinema in Hong Kong.

BBC

Take a piece of thread or thin string about 60cm (2 feet) long and thread it through a button that has two eyes.

WikiHow

Thread a needle and tie a knot with some white thread or thin string.

WikiHow

Use a few dabs of fabric or hot glue to hold the fabric together, or tie a piece of thread or thin string around the pinched center to hold the bow's shape.

WikiHow

Hunter S. Thompson, who killed himself last week in his house in Woody Creek, near Aspen, Colorado, was a high-strung, thin-skinned, programmatically dissipated workaholic, inveterately suspicious of authority, perpetually worried that his best days were behind him, and unable to deal with the attention and success that he scrambled and sweated for many years to achieve.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strung thin", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being stretched or strained, such as resources, patience, or emotions. For instance, specify whether it's "patience strung thin" or "resources strung thin".

Common error

Avoid using "strung thin" without a clear object or subject. Saying simply "things are strung thin" can lack clarity. Instead, specify what is under strain to maintain a focused and understandable statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strung thin" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to characterize a state of being overextended or strained. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not a standard expression, but is understandable in context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Wiki

22%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strung thin" is a descriptive phrase indicating that something is stretched or strained to its limit. While understandable, it's not a standard or frequently used expression, as noted by Ludwig AI. More common alternatives include "stretched thin" or "at the breaking point". When using "strung thin", ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is under strain, be it resources, patience, or emotions. The phrase is generally suitable for neutral contexts like news and general writing, though not particularly formal or technical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stretched thin

Focuses on the idea of resources or patience being extended to a limit.

spread too thinly

Implies a lack of concentration due to being distributed over too many things.

stretched to the limit

Highlights reaching the maximum capacity or endurance.

at the breaking point

Emphasizes being close to failure or collapse under pressure.

running on fumes

Suggests continuing to operate with very little energy or resources remaining.

close to exhaustion

Focuses on physical or mental fatigue as a result of overextension.

on one's last nerve

Highlights being extremely irritated or impatient.

treading water

Conveys struggling to maintain a current position without making progress.

barely coping

Indicates struggling to manage current demands or challenges.

under immense strain

Emphasizes a state of great pressure or tension.

FAQs

How can I use "strung thin" in a sentence?

You can use "strung thin" to describe resources, patience, or emotions that are stretched to their limit. For example, "After weeks of dealing with demanding clients, my patience was strung thin."

What does it mean when something is described as "strung thin"?

It means that something is stretched or extended to a point of being fragile or weak, often referring to emotions, resources or relationships being tested.

What are some alternatives to saying my patience is "strung thin"?

Alternatives include "stretched to the limit", "at the breaking point", or "on one's last nerve".

Is "strung thin" a commonly used expression in English?

While understandable, "strung thin" isn't a standard or highly frequent expression. Alternatives like "stretched thin" might be more common.