flimsy
flimsy — adjective
1. made of thin or weak material, so that it breaks, tears, or bends too easily — f
made of thin or weak material, so that it breaks, tears, or bends too easily — for example, a flimsy folding chair that gives way under a person's weight, or a flimsy cardboard box that rips when lifted.
The folding chair was so flimsy that it broke when Andrew sat on it.
pattern: so + flimsy + that clause (result structure)
Élise wrapped the vase in newspaper because the cardboard box was too flimsy.
collocation: flimsy + cardboard box / container
A flimsy plastic bag will tear if you overload it with heavy groceries.
The old wooden fence was flimsy, and a strong gust of wind knocked it flat.
Beatrix complained that the tent poles were too flimsy to survive the storm.
- fragile
suggests something easily broken but possibly valuable or delicate; 'flimsy' adds the sense of cheap or poor-quality materials
- weak
a more general word; 'flimsy' specifically implies thin or poorly made, not just lacking strength
- rickety
describes furniture or structures that are unsteady because of loose joints or age; 'flimsy' focuses on the materials being too thin
文法句型
flimsy + noun
be + flimsy
用法筆記
Frequently describes objects made of cheap or poor-quality materials. Unlike fragile, which can suggest something delicate and worth handling with care, flimsy implies the object is weak because of inexpensive or careless construction.
常見錯誤
2. not strong or convincing enough to be believed or accepted — used about reasons,
not strong or convincing enough to be believed or accepted — used about reasons, excuses, arguments, or plans that lack solid support or clear logic.
Linh gave a flimsy excuse about missing the bus, but nobody believed her.
collocation: flimsy excuse
The lawyer argued that the evidence against her client was too flimsy to prove anything.
pattern: too flimsy to + infinitive
Mauricio rejected the business proposal, calling it a flimsy plan with no real details.
Ilan's flimsy explanation for the missing money only made his boss more suspicious.
Heloísa's flimsy argument crumbled when her teacher asked for details.
- weak
a more general term; 'flimsy' adds a vivid sense of something so thin it can barely hold together
- unconvincing
more formal; suggests an argument fails to persuade on rational grounds
- lame
informal; similar to 'flimsy' for excuses, but less common for arguments or evidence
- convincing
so strong and logical that it makes you believe something
- solid
used figuratively to mean well-supported and reliable
文法句型
flimsy + noun (excuse / argument / evidence)
be + flimsy
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns such as excuse, argument, evidence, explanation, reason, claim, and plan. Less formal than unconvincing or insubstantial; more vivid than weak for spoken English.
常見錯誤
flimsy — noun
1. a very thin, lightweight sheet of paper, once commonly inserted with carbon pape
a very thin, lightweight sheet of paper, once commonly inserted with carbon paper to produce copies of typed or handwritten documents.
Before computers, office typists placed sheets of flimsy between pages to produce carbon copies.
historical context: carbon copies, pre-computer era
The memo was typed on flimsy so thin that the ink bled right through.
pattern: so + thin + that clause
Ada found a stack of yellowed flimsy in the back of the stationery cupboard.
Emre unfolded the document — it was a single sheet of flimsy from the 1950s.
- onionskin
a specific type of thin, strong paper used for carbon copies; 'flimsy' is the more general term
文法句型
sheet of flimsy
a flimsy
用法筆記
Mainly historical. Refers to the thin paper used with carbon paper before photocopiers and printers became common. Often uncountable ('a sheet of flimsy'). This sense is now rare in everyday use though still recognized in archival contexts.
2. an item of clothing, typically women's undergarments, crafted from extremely fin
an item of clothing, typically women's undergarments, crafted from extremely fine, lightweight material such as silk or lace.
The boutique sells silk flimsies in a range of pastel colours.
plural form: flimsies
Jin's grandmother still calls lightweight nightgowns 'flimsies', though the word sounds old-fashioned now.
note: slightly dated or old-fashioned usage
In the dressing room, a rack of delicate lace flimsies hung from wooden hangers.
Maja pulled a silk flimsy from the drawer and held it up to the light.
文法句型
plural: flimsies
用法筆記
Old-fashioned term. Usually appears in the plural form flimsies. Today, words like lingerie or camisole are more common. The singular form 'a flimsy' is occasionally used but rare.