less than

less than — idiom

1. used before an adjective or adverb to say that the quality it names is completel

1.慣用語B2
釋義

used before an adjective or adverb to say that the quality it names is completely absent — for example, saying someone is 'less than happy' means they are definitely not happy at all, and may even be unhappy.

例句

Brooke was less than thrilled when her flight was delayed by six hours.

less than + thrilled (adjective describing emotion)

The hotel's service was less than satisfactory, so Hassan asked to speak to the manager.

less than + satisfactory (adjective describing quality)

同義詞
  • far from

    similar in meaning but slightly less emphatic; 'far from happy' can imply 'a long way from happy' rather than absolute negation

  • not at all

    more direct and common in everyday speech; 'not at all happy' states the negation plainly without the idiomatic tone

  • by no means

    more formal and literary; 'by no means happy' suits written or formal spoken contexts

反義詞
  • quite

    positive opposite — 'quite happy' expresses a clear positive where 'less than happy' expresses a clear negative

  • completely

    emphatic positive — 'completely satisfied' is the strong affirmative version of 'less than satisfactory'

文法句型

less than + adjective/adverb

用法筆記

Always placed directly before an adjective or adverb. The phrase is most natural with positive or neutral descriptors (thrilled, satisfactory, helpful, sincere). Avoid using it before already-negative words: 'less than unhappy' sounds unnatural because the phrase itself carries a strong negative meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I am less than not interested in the proposal.
✅I am less than interested in the proposal.
💡'less than' already conveys a strong negative; adding 'not' is redundant.
❌The food was less than gooder than we expected.
✅The food was less than good.
💡'less than' must be followed by the base form of the adjective, not a comparative.