threadbare

/ˈθredbeə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [θrˈɛdbˌɛr] /ˈθredber/ (ame, ipa) · [θrˈɛdbˌɛr] /ˈthred-ˌber How to pronounce threadbare (audio)/ (ame, mw)

threadbare — adjective

  • threadbarepositive
  • more threadbarecomparative
  • most threadbaresuperlative

1. Said of fabric or an item of clothing whose surface fibres have worn away throug

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Said of fabric or an item of clothing whose surface fibres have worn away through repeated use, leaving the material so thin that the underlying threads become visible.

例句

Saira's threadbare coat could not keep out the cold wind on the walk home.

attributive use: threadbare + noun (coat)

The knees of Jin's jeans were threadbare after years of use.

predicative: subject + threadbare

同義詞
  • worn

    more general; describes any sign of use, not only thin fabric

  • shabby

    focuses on the untidy appearance from wear rather than the fabric structure

  • frayed

    describes threads coming loose at edges, a specific form of wear

  • ragged

    implies torn or irregular edges, stronger visual damage

反義詞
  • new

    general opposite in condition

  • pristine

    suggests completely unused or perfectly preserved condition

文法句型

threadbare + noun

be + threadbare

用法筆記

Commonly used attributively before nouns for items of clothing or fabric. The predicative pattern ("became threadbare") is also frequent, especially to describe the result of heavy use over time.

常見錯誤

❌The shirt was old and torn' (when describing worn-thin fabric).
✅The shirt was threadbare at the elbows.
💡'threadbare' specifically means the fabric is so worn that the threads show through, not just torn or old.

2. Applies to a claim, justification, or narrative that no longer feels convincing

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Applies to a claim, justification, or narrative that no longer feels convincing or interesting because people have encountered it far too often in the past.

例句

Caleb was tired of the threadbare excuse from students who had not done their homework.

attributive: threadbare + noun (excuse)

The politician's threadbare promises about tax cuts convinced almost nobody in the audience.

同義詞
  • hackneyed

    more formal and strongly negative; describes phrases or ideas used so often they are annoying

  • stale

    suggests loss of freshness or appeal from overuse, common in everyday speech

  • tired

    informal; describes something that feels boring because it has been said too many times

  • clichéd

    specifically describes an expression or idea that has become predictable through overuse

反義詞
  • fresh

    suggests newness and originality

  • original

    emphasises that the idea has not been copied or repeated

文法句型

threadbare + noun (excuse/argument/claim/cliché)

用法筆記

Almost always used attributively. The objects of this sense are limited to abstract nouns describing speech or thought: excuse, argument, claim, promise, joke, cliché, idea. Not used with concrete nouns (e.g., "a threadbare car" cannot mean an overused car in this sense).

常見錯誤

❌His joke was threadbare and old.' (redundant).
✅His threadbare joke got no laughs.
💡'threadbare' already carries the meaning of 'old from overuse'; pairing it with 'old' is tautological.