Posts Tagged ‘less’

Phrases with less

August 2nd, 2013 in Improve English

Several common phrases use the word less.

In less than no time

If you do something in less than no time, you do it very quickly.

  • Although they managed to take him to hospital in less than no time, they couldn’t save his life.
  • She cleaned up the mess in less than no time.

Less and less

Used to refer to something that gradually gets smaller in amount or degree

  • Farming is growing less and less profitable.

Less of

Used to ask someone to stop doing something

  • We’ll have less of that rudeness, please. (Used to ask someone to stop behaving rudely.)

Less than

Used before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than that.

  • It was the second tragedy to strike their household in less than one month.
  • A decent laptop costs less than $300 these days.

Less than + adjective

Less than can be followed by an adjective.

  • Theirs was obviously a less than perfect marriage. (= Their marriage was not at all perfect.)
  • The teacher said that she was less than satisfied with our performance. (= She was not at all satisfied with our performance.)

No less

Used for emphasizing that the person or thing you are talking about is very important

  • She received the award from the President, no less.

No less than

  • The applicants should have scored no less than 90% percent marks in the entrance examination.

Nothing less than

Used for emphasizing how important or serious something really is

  • Their eagerness to help was nothing less than miraculous.