less than

IPA/lˈɛs ðɐn/
IPA/lˈɛs ðɐn/

less than — idiom

1. used before an adjective to mean that something is the opposite of what the adje

1.慣用語B2
釋義

used before an adjective to mean that something is the opposite of what the adjective suggests, or that it is not true at all — for example, if someone is less than happy, they are unhappy, and if a report is less than accurate, it is inaccurate.

例句

Imani was less than thrilled to learn her flight was delayed by six hours.

less than thrilled = unhappy; understatement pattern

Ignacio's less-than-perfect driving record made it hard to find cheap insurance.

less-than-perfect as compound modifier before noun

同義詞
反義詞
  • quite

    direct opposite — means 'to a considerable degree'

  • very

    direct opposite — intensifies the adjective

文法句型

less than + adjective

用法筆記

Often creates an ironic understatement (litotes): "less than thrilled" usually means "unhappy" or "annoyed," not simply "not very happy." Can also be written as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., "a less-than-perfect solution").

常見錯誤

❌I am less than tired.' (unnatural with extreme or negative adjectives).
✅I am less than thrilled.' (used with positive or neutral adjectives to imply the opposite).
💡"less than" works best with adjectives that have a clear positive meaning; using it with negative or extreme adjectives sounds awkward.
❌less than 10 dollars' (wrong — "less than + number" is a different construction, meaning "fewer than").
✅He was less than kind.' (adjective follows "less than").
💡the idiomatic phrase requires an adjective, not a quantity.