was able to slice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was able to slice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone successfully performed the action of slicing something, often after some effort or difficulty. Example: "After several attempts, she was able to slice the cake evenly for the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Norman was able to slice it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Nelson was able to slice through the secondary because one safety, Antrel Rolle, was in zone coverage and the other, Deon Grant, was playing man-to-man.

The New York Times - Sports

Philip Murtaugh, chief executive of Coda, said in an interview Wednesday that the company was able to slice the price down to $40,795 by "hard work" and examining one line item at a time.

The New York Times

The logo, which is aluminum, was able to slice right through Laptop's skin, leaving the battle wound you see there.

TechCrunch

Meredith Smith was able to slice through a few teeth and show that they are made of regular dentine, not semidentine.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Good radishes are crisp and juicy, and you should be able to slice them paper thin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You should be able to slice it straight from the freezer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The second problem is that the blade will need a lot of power to be able to slice through materials.

Independent

FEMALE swimmers with their curvy, streamlined shapes ought to be able to slice through the water more efficiently than their bulky male counterparts.

The Economist

A 2-year-old can add cherry tomatoes to the salad; a 6-year-old can be taught how to cut soft vegetables; a 10-year-old may be able to slice meat.

The New York Times

Boning short ribs for stew is a tricky job that you can leave to the butcher, who would also be able to slice some beef for Korean bulgogi, paper-thin.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was able to slice" to indicate a successful action, often after some effort or overcoming an obstacle. For example, "After much practice, she was able to slice the tomatoes perfectly thin."

Common error

Avoid using "was able to slice" when you mean a general capability without a specific instance. Instead of "He was able to slice any vegetable", use "He can slice any vegetable" or "He is able to slice any vegetable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was able to slice" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating the ability and successful completion of an action. It is typically used to describe a specific instance where someone or something had the capacity and opportunity to perform the act of slicing. Ludwig AI examples from diverse sources support this interpretation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was able to slice" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to denote the successful completion of a slicing action, often in the face of some challenge or with specific conditions being met. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and highlights its presence across various contexts, including news media, science, and wikis. While relatively infrequent, "was able to slice" serves a valuable purpose in conveying both the ability and the successful execution of a slicing action, with alternatives like "managed to slice" and "succeeded in slicing" offering similar shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

managed to slice

Emphasizes successfully completing the action of slicing, often implying some difficulty.

succeeded in slicing

Highlights the successful outcome of the slicing action.

could slice

Indicates a general ability or possibility to slice.

had the ability to slice

More formal way of expressing the capability to slice.

was capable of slicing

Similar to "had the ability to slice" but slightly more emphatic.

proved able to slice

Highlights that the ability to slice was demonstrated or confirmed.

found a way to slice

Emphasizes the discovery or creation of a method to slice.

contrived to slice

Suggests that slicing was achieved through ingenuity or manipulation.

attained the capacity to slice

Focuses on gaining the necessary skills or resources for slicing.

was in a position to slice

Highlights the favorable circumstances that allowed the slicing action.

FAQs

What does "was able to slice" mean?

The phrase "was able to slice" indicates that someone or something had the capability and opportunity to cut something using a sharp object. It implies a successful completion of the slicing action.

What can I say instead of "was able to slice"?

You can use alternatives like "managed to slice", "succeeded in slicing", or "could slice" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "was able to slice" instead of "could slice"?

"Was able to slice" implies a specific instance of successfully slicing something, while "could slice" suggests a general ability or potential. For example, "He was able to slice the bread" (specific instance) vs. "He could slice bread" (general ability).

Is "was able to slice" more formal than "managed to slice"?

The phrase "was able to slice" and "managed to slice" are interchangeable and have a similar level of formality, and which one to use comes down to personal preference. It is slightly more formal than alternatives such as "succeeded in slicing".