thin hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thin hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a very small chance of something happening or being true. Example: "Despite the challenges ahead, there is still a thin hope that we can turn things around."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Admittedly, it is a thin hope.

The Economist

But the statement from Dick and Lynne contains a strange twist of logic that belies any thin hope of insincerity.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were drawn to Wyoming, where Ms. Kipp has family, by the promise of plentiful jobs and a booming energy sector, and a thin hope of rebuilding their futures on the High Plains.

The New York Times

Howard-Brook says that Western Christianity has "declared Jesus' explicit call for God's kingdom on earth as in heaven a heresy, replacing it with a thin hope for individual souls after death.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Upon those thin hopes the newly constituted Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement recently gave Shell preliminary approval to attempt this high-wire act in the Arctic.

The New York Times

But as administration officials argued for calm, they also faced their thin hopes for a peace agreement evaporating in the gun battles between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

The New York Times

Ending a four-game losing streak, the Broncos (3-6) kept alive their thin hopes of getting back into the playoff race by handing the Chiefs (5-4) their second straight loss.

The New York Times - Sports

Besides, such thin hopes are no consolation for tourists and investors who want to visit Kenya.The Shabab are being squeezed from all sides by American drones from the air, by Somali government forces and African Union troops (mostly Ugandan) in Mogadishu, and by Ethiopia, which says it may reinforce the AU force by pushing in from the West.

The Economist

Mr. Barta preened for a photographer, smoothing his gray stubble of hair and sucking in his gut, trying to stand at an angle that made him look thinner, hoping that an in-shape, athletic woman, 30 to 45, with a lust for blood sports would notice him in the paper.

The New York Times

But he also felt a thin, eager hope that these two women could fix her, that they were capable of doing something simple that would suddenly make everything all right.

The New Yorker

Racism was thick, hope thin.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thin hope" to acknowledge a possibility, however small, in challenging situations. It conveys realism with a touch of optimism.

Common error

Avoid using "thin hope" when the situation is clearly hopeless. It implies a degree of optimism that should be supported by context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thin hope" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "thin" modifies the noun "hope". It describes the quality or degree of hope, indicating that it is minimal or fragile. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thin hope" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich phrase used to describe a slight or fragile possibility. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. Related phrases, such as "slender hope" and "slim chance", offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis. When using "thin hope", ensure that the context supports the small degree of optimism it implies to avoid misleading the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slender hope

Implies a delicate and fragile possibility, similar to "thin hope".

slim chance

Focuses on the low probability of success, differing slightly from the hopeful aspect of "thin hope".

faint hope

Highlights the weak or diminished nature of the hope, resembling "thin hope".

remote possibility

Emphasizes the unlikelihood of the event occurring. Lacks emotional tone of "thin hope".

outside chance

Indicates a low probability, where success is not completely impossible, similar to "thin hope".

tenuous hope

Stresses the weak and easily broken nature of the hope, comparable to "thin hope".

slight expectation

Downplays the element of hope, focusing more on a minimal level of anticipation.

small prospect

Highlights the limited potential for a positive outcome, echoing the sentiment of "thin hope".

fragile optimism

Combines the concepts of weakness and positive anticipation, conveying the idea of "thin hope".

distant dream

Highlights the improbability and remoteness of achieving the desired outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "thin hope" to express a small or weak possibility of something happening. For example, "Despite the odds, there's a "thin hope" that they will find a solution."

What are some alternatives to "thin hope"?

Alternatives to "thin hope" include "slender hope", "slim chance", or "faint hope". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "thin hope" the same as "false hope"?

No, "thin hope" suggests a small possibility, while "false hope" implies there is no real chance at all and that the hope is misleading.

Which is more appropriate to use, "thin hope" or "slim hope"?

Both "thin hope" and "slim hope" are acceptable. "Thin hope" might subtly emphasize the fragility of the hope, while "slim hope" focuses on the low probability.