hardlyhard‧ly /ˈhɑːdli $ ˈhɑːrdli/ ●●● S2 W2 adverb 
My parents divorced when I was six, and I hardly knew my father. The children were so excited they could hardly speak. I can hardly believe it. Hardly anyone (=almost no one) writes to me these days. Dad ate hardly anything (=almost nothing). There was hardly any (=very little) traffic. She lives in Spain, so we hardly ever (=almost never) see her.hardly a day/week/month etc goes by without/when (=used to say that something happens almost every day, week etc) Hardly a month goes by without another factory closing down.2used to mean ‘not’, when you are suggesting that the person you are speaking to will agree with you: It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her. You can hardly blame Tom for not waiting. My boss could hardly be described as handsome.hardly the time/place/person etc (=a very unsuitable time, place, person etc) This is hardly the place to discuss the matter.3used to say that something has only just happened: The building work has hardly begun.had hardly ... when/before She had hardly sat down when the phone rang.GRAMMARWord order• Hardly usually comes before a main verb: · He hardly said a word.• Hardly comes after the first auxiliary verb: · I can hardly believe you said that.· We could hardly have known what was going to happen next. ✗Don’t say: I hardly can believe you said that.• Hardly usually comes after the verb ‘be’ when it is used in simple tenses such as ‘is’ or ‘was’: · This was hardly surprising.• In writing, you can use hardly at the beginning of a sentence before an auxiliary to say that one thing happens very soon after another thing: · Hardly had the rain stopped, when the sun came out.NegativesYou say hardly any: · There’s hardly any milk. ✗Don’t say: There’s hardly no milk.Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSUSAGE: Hard, hardlyHardly is not the adverb of hard. The adverb of hard is hard: · I work hard. ✗Don’t say: I work hardly.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All these similarities could hardly be due to chance.
- He's hardly a world chess champion - you should be able to beat him.
- I hardly know the people I'm working with.
- It's hardly surprising he's upset, considering the way you've treated him!
- The day had hardly begun, and he felt exhausted already.
- They only won 1-0 - hardly a great victory!
- This is hardly the ideal time to buy a house.
- At least the socket in the tip of her left forefinger hardly showed.
- But I hardly like to tell you about the disaster that befell Angela within the next few minutes.
- First off, he decided to attack dueling, which was hardly a threat any longer.
- He found he could hardly open his eyes.
- That may be an arresting statement, but it is hardly an exaggerated description of what they did.
- With two of the office down with chicken-pox, she hardly had time to think these days, let alone relax.
- Women were hardly spared that day, either.
- You hardly ever hear of hip-hop guys naming themselves after computer hardware.
Longman Language Activatorto eat small amounts of food
to eat something by biting very small pieces: · The horse lowered his head and began to nibble the grass.nibble on/at: · We stood around drinking wine and nibbling on little snacks.
to eat only a small part of a meal, especially because you feel ill or unhappy: · I sat picking at my dinner, wishing I were somewhere else.
to eat almost none of your dinner, meal etc: · Are you feeling okay? You've hardly touched your dinner.· We were so full by the time dessert came that we hardly touched it.
very few a very small number of people, things, places etc: · At that time, few people had televisions.· Very few new restaurants survive for more than two years.few/very few of: · Very few of the students we asked said they were interested in politics.
so few people or things that there are almost none: · There are almost no black students at the college.· My grandmother received almost no education as she was growing up.· Except for a lone seagull flying overhead, there are almost no signs of animal life.
so few people or things that there are almost none - use this especially when this number is disappointing or surprising: · There are supposed to be a lot of teachers at the conference, but I've met hardly any.hardly/scarcely any people/things/places etc: · Although it was Monday morning there were hardly any people around.· He enjoyed his work even though he made scarcely any money.hardly anyone: · We sent out over a hundred invitations but hardly anyone came.hardly any/scarcely any of: · Scarcely any of the private schools replied to the researcher's questionnaire.
spoken say this to emphasize that there is only a very small number of people, things, times when something happens etc: · I can count the number of times my son's called me on one hand.· Ten years ago, you could count the Korean restaurants in this city on the fingers of one hand.
immediately after something else happens · We met at a friend's party, and immediately became friends.· There was a loud explosion in the engine-room, and almost immediately a fire broke out.· I'll call you immediately we hear any news about the baby.immediately after/afterwards · We'll have to leave immediately after the meeting.· Mrs Smith was admitted to hospital at 10 o'clock, but died immediately afterwards.
immediately after something has happened or immediately after you have done something: · As soon as Stephen felt well again, he returned to work.· I will pay you back, I promise, the moment I get paid.· Honey, I swear, I'll phone you the moment I get to New York.
immediately after something has happened or someone has done something - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: no sooner had...than: · No sooner had they sat down to eat than the phone rang.· No sooner had he arrived in the city than his wallet was stolen.no sooner was/were...than: · No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she regretted them.
also hardly had immediately after an event or action has finished - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: · I'd done food shopping and had barely gotten to the door, when Debbie asked if I'd been listening to the radio.· Hardly had the film reached our screens last July than it was plagued by troubles and controversy.
to do something immediately, as soon as you have the chance to do it: lose no time in doing something: · When the new manager was appointed, he lost no time in reorganizing the office.· Murdock lost no time in setting out for London to find work.
at almost the same time that something else happens, and happening as a direct result of it: · Sea snakes inject a poison so strong that it kills a fish instantly.· It was a head-on crash and both drivers died instantly.
written if someone is killed outright , they die immediately from an attack or an accident: · He was killed outright when his car crashed at high speed.
when you do something, but only with difficulty also can scarcely British if you can hardly , can barely , or can scarcely do something, you are able to do it but only with a lot of difficulty: · I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.· She's not strong. She can barely walk without holding on to something.· He lay flat on his back, scarcely able to breathe, waiting for the ambulance.
if you can just about do something, you are able to do it but only with a lot of difficulty: · I could just about reach it.· I think I can just about manage to get there on time. · He's just about able to walk on his own again.
a small amount of food or drink · "Would you like some more coffee?" "Just a little."a little water/meat/cake etc · The next day Mark felt well enough to eat a little solid food.· Would you like a little ice cream with your pie?a little of (=a small amount of a specific food, drink etc) · I think I'll try a little of the casserole.a little more/less · If I were you I'd use a little less salt next time.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount: · "Can I serve you some soup?" "Alright, but just a little bit."a little bit of: · He only ate a little bit of dinner and then went straight to bed.· Would you like a bit of bacon with your eggs?· We still have a little bit of cheese left, if you want it.a (little) bit more/less: · Can I have a bit more red wine, please?
only a little - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much cake do you want?" "Not much, I'm on a diet."not much water/meat/cake etc: · There's not much wine left, but I think we can each have a glass.not much to eat/drink: · We need to do some shopping - there isn't much to eat at home.not very much: · You haven't eaten very much. Do you feel okay?
a very small amount, usually so small that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful etc: · We drink only occasionally, and even then very little.very little water/meat/cake etc: · The soup is made with lots of vegetables but very little chicken.very little of: · He ate very little of the food we had given him.
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · I thought you liked my lasagne, but you've eaten hardly any.hardly any water/meat/cake etc: · There's barely any sugar in these cookies at all.· Since his heart attack he's eaten scarcely any red meat.
informal a small amount of something that you drink: · "Do you take cream in your coffee?" "Yes, just a drop, please."drop of: · Would you like a drop of soda in your whisky?· He hasn't had a drop of alcohol in 20 years.
a small amount of a powder such as salt, flour etc which you can hold between your thumb and first finger: pinch of: · Add a pinch of salt and half a cup of breadcrumbs.· The stew normally tastes better with a pinch or two of dried herbs.
a very small amount of a liquid which is added to a drink or to food, usually in order to give it a stronger taste: dash of: · It's just vodka with orange juice and a dash of lime juice.· The secret of this sauce is a couple of dashes of brandy added just at the end.
a very small amount of something such as a feeling, quality etc a very small amount, so that there is not enough to have an effect, be useful, important etc: · "How much do you know about computers?" "Very little, I'm afraid."very little trouble/patience/help etc: · I had very little energy left.· Changing the law will make very little difference.· It makes very little sense for companies to maintain large inventories these days.
such a small amount that you can hardly notice it: almost no trouble/patience/help etc: · Scientists have paid almost no attention to the new theory.· She supports the bill although she admits it has almost no chance of being passed.· The birth control campaign was begun 10 years ago but has had almost no impact in the rural areas.almost none: · "What progress have you made on your research project?" "Almost none."
also scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · She said she felt a lot of regret about leaving, but I felt hardly any at all.hardly any trouble/patience/help etc: · They closed down the whole department with barely any notice to the staff.· Mark is so lazy, he makes scarcely any effort to improve his work.
a very small amount of something, that you almost do not notice: · "Are you ready yet?" asked Hazel, with a touch of irritation in her voice.· For the first time a hint of tension had crept into their relationship.· After speaking to her for awhile, he began to detect a trace of a Southern accent.
formal a small amount, especially when you expect more: little trouble/patience/help etc: · Little progress was made during the negotiations.· The report offers little hope that the economy will improve any time soon.· There seems to be little chance of him coming home for Christmas.
a minimal amount of something is the smallest that is possible, so that it is not worth thinking or worrying about: · The new operating technique involves minimal risk to patients.· The impact of the sale on current employees should be minimal.· The crew had very little experience and were given minimal safety training.
a negligible amount of something is so small that it has almost no effect at all: · The damage done to his property was negligible.· Economists say raising the minimum wage would have a negligible effect on employment rates.· The chances of a healthy adult contracting the disease are negligible.
if you know, learn, say, hear etc next to nothing about something, then you know, learn etc very little about it: · I learned next to nothing at school - the teachers were awful.· My parents know next to nothing about the men I date.
a very small amount of a substance a very small amount, usually so that there is not enough to be useful, to be important etc: · There was no ink in the bottle and very little left in the pen.very little water/money/time etc: · Fish contains very little fat.· The area has a lot of deer, but very little water and not much open space.
/scarcely any especially British almost none at all: · Don't forget to order some more paper for the copy machine - there's barely any left.hardly any water/money/time etc: · The ferns manage to grow with scarcely any sunlight.· He was fifty years old and his hair still had hardly any gray in it.
such a small amount that you can hardly see it, use it etc: almost no water/money/time: · Potatoes have almost no fat, but they're very filling.· He had a longish, plain face with a straight nose and almost no hair.almost none: · "How much glue is left?" "Almost none."almost none of something: · By the time the dentist had finished almost none of the existing tooth remained.
if there is no rain, food, oil, etc to speak of , there is almost none and not enough to have any effect: · There had been no rain to speak of for ten weeks and the garden was dying.none to speak of: · There's no fuel oil left - none to speak of, anyway.
an amount so small that it is very difficult to see: · She had very little grey hair, with just a trace near the temples.trace of: · Police found traces of blood on the killer's shoes.· Tests have revealed traces of poison in his food.
not necessary if something is unnecessary or not necessary , you do not need to have it or do it: · Don't fill your report with unnecessary information.· A lot of the expenses that he's claiming seem totally unnecessary.it is unnecessary/not necessary to do something: · It's not necessary to spend a lot of money on clothes to look good.
British not necessary at all - use this when you are surprised that someone thinks something is necessary: · They asked to see my passport, my driver's license, and my bank card, which was hardly necessary.· At first glance, it seems hardly necessary to make another film about Van Gogh.
use this to describe bad things that are unnecessary because they could easily have been prevented or avoided: · "I am very saddened by this needless loss of life," the President said at a news conference Tuesday.· He accused the local council of allowing a needless tragedy, through a policy of not fitting smoke detectors to council houses.
done for no reason, and seeming shocking or offensive: gratuitous violence/insults/cruelty etc: · The network refused to televise the film because it contained too much gratuitous violence.· It was a completely gratuitous insult -- I hadn't said anything to offend her.
stronger expressions meaning not use this to emphasize that something is definitely not true: · She's not at all happy about the situation.· The children didn't seem to be at all frightened.· No, no, no, that's wrong. That's not what I meant at all.
formal use this when you want to say strongly that something is not true: · It is by no means certain that you'll get your money back.· It's difficult, but by no means impossible.· It's not clear by any means where the money is going to come from to fund this project.
also not a bit especially British use this to say strongly that something is not true, especially when you would expect it to be true: · You're not in the least sorry, are you?· My essay wasn't a bit like yours.· "Was she annoyed?" "Not a bit! She was delighted."fnot the least (bit): · Henry wasn't the least bit worried.
if something is in no way affected by something else, it is definitely not affected by it in any way: · This will in no way influence our original decision.· The damage is very slight and in no way reduces the value of the painting.
use this when something is completely untrue, impossible, different etc: · His arguments are not remotely convincing.· It was a stupid remark, and not remotely funny.· She didn't seem remotely interested in anything I had to say.
use this to emphasize that something is definitely not true, and if someone thinks it is true they are being a little stupid: · They only won 1-0 - hardly a great victory!· It's hardly surprising he's upset, considering the way you've treated him!· He's hardly a world chess champion - you should be able to beat him.· All these similarities could hardly be due to chance.
use this to say that someone is not good at something: · I occasionally put up a few shelves, but I'm not exactly the world's greatest handyman.
an informal expression meaning to not have the skills, qualities etc of the person or type of person that you have mentioned: · Of course, I'm no expert but that wall really looks like it's leaning over.· Stephanie knows what she's doing. She's no fool.· He's quite a bright boy I suppose, but he's no Albert Einstein.
use this to emphasize strongly that something is not possible, likely, true etc: · I can't see any use in us talking about that idea at all - it's simply not practical.· For as long as she could remember she'd just never been interested in marriage and children.
rarely/not often not at all often. Seldom is more formal than rarely and is used especially in written English: · The Queen rarely speaks to journalists.· Discipline is rarely a problem in this school.· They're a very nice young couple, although I very seldom see them.rarely does/has somebody: · Very rarely do we have a complaint from any of our customers.· Seldom have I seen such a miraculous recovery in one of my patients.rarely/seldom, if ever: · Anti-government demonstrations do occur, but they are seldom, if ever, reported in the press.
· I don't often see my grandchildren.· Sometimes, but not very often, Pippa persuaded her father to lend her his car.· Tina didn't get to work until ten o'clock this morning, which is unusual because she's not often late.it's not often (that) · Of course I'm going to take the job, it's not often that you get a chance like this.
almost never: · My grandmother hardly ever goes out of the house.· She's hardly ever ill.· We scarcely ever walk through the town without meeting someone we know.· There used to be a lot of disputes over land boundaries but nowadays such problems scarcely ever arise.
informal extremely rarely: · I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.· Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
wanting to sleep · The kids were really tired, so we sent them to bed.· I tried to watch the news on TV, but I was too tired to stay awake.
if you are sleepy , you want to sleep immediately and your eyes are starting to close: · "Aren't you sleepy?" "No, I took a nap this afternoon."· It's no easy task getting three sleepy children out of the car and into the house.· We arrived at the hotel late at night, and were too sleepy to notice how beautiful it was.
starting to sleep because you are in a warm place or because you have drunk alcohol or taken medicine: · You shouldn't drive after taking these pills - they can make you drowsy.· Len had drunk too much wine, and he felt cosy and drowsy in spite of the coffee.
very nearly asleep because you are tired and sleepy: · "Wyatt, what is it?" Sue called, half-asleep, from the bedroom.· Moira was half-asleep when the phone rang and it took her a few seconds to realize what it was.
to feel so tired that you find it hard to stay awake: · I can't keep my eyes open - I've got to go to bed.· The kids were still full of energy, but Julie and I could hardly keep our eyes open.· By the time we finally got home, I could barely keep my eyes open.
not suitable for a particular purpose, person, or situation · We never planted roses here because the climate isn't suitable.· The strict laws forbid women to read "unsuitable material."unsuitable/not suitable for · The road is not suitable for heavy vehicles.· The movie contains violence and is unsuitable for children.
formal not suitable for a situation or purpose - use this especially about something that has been done or chosen without enough care or thought: · This is not an appropriate use of taxpayers' money.· I thought his remarks were inappropriate on such a serious occasion.inappropriate/not appropriate for: · The court found that the sex-education brochures were inappropriate for eighth-grade students.it is inappropriate/not appropriate (for somebody) to do something: · It's completely inappropriate for the President to get so involved in a local issue like this.
not having the qualities or characteristics that are needed for a particular purpose or situation: · The tomatoes didn't grow because they're unsuited to the soil here.· Her outfit was completely unsuited to the tropical climate.
not the right one for a particular job or purpose: · You're using the wrong spoon - this is the soup spoon.· I think you picked the wrong time to call her.wrong for: · His brand of nationalism is wrong for our party and wrong for the country.
use this when it is completely the wrong time or place in which to do something, or the person doing it is a completely unsuitable person: · This is hardly the place to talk about your sexual problems.· I know it's hardly the moment to tell you, but I've quit my job.· This little man was hardly the kind of person you'd expect to be in charge of an international gun-smuggling scheme.
not good enough for a particular purpose, especially when someone has officially decided this: unfit/not fit for: · The land is so polluted it is not fit for crops.unfit for human consumption/habitation (=not fit for humans to eat or live in): · The meat was declared unfit for human consumption.unfit/not fit to do something: · Her uncle was mentally unstable and unfit to raise a child.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The children were so excited they could hardly speak. I can hardly believe it. Hardly anyone (=almost no one) writes to me these days. Dad ate hardly anything (=almost nothing). There was hardly any (=very little) traffic. She lives in Spain, so we hardly ever (=almost never) see her. It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her. You can hardly blame Tom for not waiting. My boss could hardly be described as handsome. She had hardly sat down when the phone rang. I could scarcely believe my luck. Hardly a week goes by without some food scare being reported in the media. The bar was so crowded you could hardly move. It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.
The children were so excited they could hardly speak. I can hardly believe it. Hardly anyone (=almost no one) writes to me these days. Dad ate hardly anything (=almost nothing). There was hardly any (=very little) traffic. She lives in Spain, so we hardly ever (=almost never) see her. (=used to say that something happens almost every day, week etc) Hardly a month goes by without another factory closing down.
Hardly a month goes by without another factory closing down. It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her. You can hardly blame Tom for not waiting. My boss could hardly be described as handsome. (=a very unsuitable time, place, person etc) This is hardly the place to discuss the matter.
This is hardly the place to discuss the matter. She had hardly sat down when the phone rang.· Hardly had the rain stopped, when the sun came out.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· George, barely awake, came stumbling down the stairs.
(=find something very difficult or upsetting to do)· He was so ashamed that he could hardly bear to look at her.
I could scarcely believe my luck.· It was so hot that I felt as though I could hardly breathe.
(=almost not)· You can hardly expect a child of three to know the difference between right and wrong.
Hardly a week goes by without some food scare being reported in the media. (=find it difficult to imagine)· He could scarcely imagine what living in such poor conditions must have been like.
(=not very likely)· It seems hardly likely that she would tell her husband about it.
The bar was so crowded you could hardly move.· I know hardly anything about it.
· There was hardly any traffic.
(=it would be unreasonable or very difficult to refuse)· Going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but I could hardly refuse.
(=almost not at all)· I can hardly remember him.
(=to not sleep well)· I’d hardly slept the night before the wedding.
It is hardly surprising that new mothers often suffer from depression.· The parked car was barely visible in the darkness.
(=only a little louder than a whisper)· 'Not me', he said, in a voice barely above a whisper.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Riven was stiff all over, hardly able to stretch himself flat.· But hardly able to stand such an insult, she returns, mightily testing both his faith and his pocketbook.· After two days they found him, an exhausted scarecrow of a figure hardly able to stand.· Ezra said, looking out the window, hardly able to see the water behind his own reflection.· He paced the dusty road somewhat nervously, yet hardly able to contain the soaring enthusiasm in his heart.· President Gorbachev demanded and got more and more personal power, although he was hardly able to use it effectively.· Harriet was weeping, hardly able to speak.· Her companions returned from it hardly able to stand; she was not much sturdier.
· It's hardly likely that the people in charge would want to share the fate of this unfortunate planet.· It is hardly likely that a vicious thug will wait politely while we ring the police.· Far from being a jackpot for commuters, the compensation payouts are hardly likely to be worth the flutter.· It seemed hardly likely she would go to such lengths to prevent her husband from discovering about the Grand Duke Igor.· It could have been an accident, but I knew that was hardly likely, not with the file missing.· Although it was hardly likely he would want to seek her out.· They're hardly likely to have the most tolerant or liberal attitudes are they!· But the Research Board is hardly likely to get involved in a policing activity.
· These distortions are the very essence of prejudice, and it is hardly surprising that conflict with Peter had arisen.· It is hardly surprising that real wages rose less rapidly than productivity and hence that profitability and competitiveness improved.· If such a three-pronged assault on the ailing Soviet economy has a familiar ring to it, that is hardly surprising.· It's hardly surprising then, that we get confused by the signals he gives out - now more than ever.· The overall tone is warm and woody - hardly surprising when you consider the sheer mass of wood involved!· Orderic's attitude is hardly surprising.· Given some of the feats he has been demonstrating, it is hardly surprising.· It is hardly surprising, therefore, that many women returners are confused about what kind of job to look for.
VERB· She could hardly bear to listen to them, smiling Clyde, amiable Harvey, fat Marlene.· Heartrending, Rob thought; he could hardly bear to look.· The two sides of the equation did not balance and she could hardly bear the implications of that.· I am so homesick I can hardly bear it.· At school the next day I hurt so much I could hardly bear to stay sitting down.· I remember being filled with such excitement I could hardly bear it.· What that will do to Strachan's nerves hardly bears thinking about.· He could hardly bear to go on.
· Kezia refused a sandwich but she smiled at Annabel, and - I could hardly believe it - Annabel curtsied.· I could hardly believe what I was saying.· He who is proclaimed a saint need hardly believe in sainthood.· If she were to conceive a child in these circumstances she would hardly believe that any part of it was hers.· Joe could hardly believe his luck to have returned home in such good shape.
· And she could hardly blame him after the disaster of their own brief marriage, Laura now thought wryly.· A lot of that was dangerously below code, but you could hardly blame people.· We could hardly blame anyone, students or advisers, if they didn't.· The authorities had become very protective, and one hardly blamed them.· Jasper wasn't too keen to start with and you can hardly blame him, but now he's fine about it.· You could hardly blame them, though, for feeling bewildered from time to time.· You can hardly blame Dixons for not making this suggestion.
· When he awoke Lucy was still at his side and the position of the sun had hardly changed.· Save for the hour, his bedtime had hardly changed over the years.· But quality teas, the best grade, have hardly changed at around 200p a kilogramme.· But the workers' production hardly changed at all.· The top 15 has hardly changed since last season.· Sales of large-scale data storage devices also increased strongly, while earnings from computer maintenance services hardly changed.· Since 1589, this house has hardly changed at all.· The complexion of the game hardly changed with the little-used reserves in.
· One can hardly expect newspapers not to change over four decades!· I hardly expected to hear anything new.· You could hardly expect him to regard it as his home.· He pushed open the screen hardly expecting to have to face the old man alone.· A woman of Daisy's age would hardly expect to have a man invited for her, Sophia decided.· One could hardly expect his mood to show much improvement when he did return.· She did not sleep well again that night, though with Naylor so much in her thoughts she had hardly expected to.· One could hardly expect the modern media to do otherwise.
· It ought to be so quiet you can hardly hear it.· I had hardly heard of Wall Street.· Inside the car the sounds of Technotronic screamed out so loudly that they could hardly hear themselves think.· When Sonya spoke, I hardly heard what she said.· He could hardly hear his thoughts above the rasping of his breath.· The wind is so strong I can hardly hear.· Zacchaeus could hardly hear because of the row the crowd was making.
· He spoke very little and we hardly knew him because he was up in front with the engine.· The rest of the time I hardly knew he was there.· Ludo swung his club at him with all that strength he hardly knows he possesses.· But now, for three days and nights, he hardly knew where he was.· Though they hardly knew my mother, they came to the funeral home and stayed until it closed.· Lucy and her mother had fallen out years before, and the children hardly knew her.· Of late, however, her output has been so uneven, one hardly knows what to expect.
· She hardly looked to be thirty; she looked beautiful, really beautiful.· The first couple of times I picked him up he hardly looked at me as we drove home.· I could hardly look at my dinner when I got home.· A 55-year-old guy drinking with a woman who looks hardly old enough to drink?· He seemed preoccupied, hardly looking at her as he got undressed.· It was so bright I could hardly look at it.· The apothecary took my money, wrapped up a bottle in blue paper and handed it over, hardly looking at me.· I adored the girl, but she would hardly look at me, not that I blame her.
· But it hardly matters to most of the city's motorists, who are unlikely to be going anywhere.· He was finally caught, and it hardly mattered who had caught him.· This would hardly matter if we still lived in those dim and distant days when nobody took sport too seriously.· Once networked, it hardly matters whether you are on the floor below, or across town.· It hardly mattered, since that route led to the docks he had already seen.· It hardly matters, because examples of bias are there in abundance, and some take fairly systematic forms.· The question whether they make a picture more or less luminous hardly matters.· But, for most, the money hardly mattered.
· They're hardly moving at all - I can nearly keep up with them just by walking quick.· But Westerners are hardly moving to Seoul to run them.· After a few days I started to develop backache in the lumbar region so acute that I could hardly move.· Huge fans in the basement of Bio2 pushed the air around for some semblance of wind, but it hardly moved pollen.· Stiff, wet and hungry, Duncan had hardly moved since their arrival.· Between the two bundled men she could hardly move.· With all the external guys pegged out it hardly moves in the wind.· By the end of dinner I could hardly move.
· But the old comfort farmer will hardly need the physical object any longer.· In the tangled politics of the regency such a complication was hardly needed.· The central concerns of the kinship school hardly need restating.· It hardly needs saying that Dame Joan is a virtuoso.· Many managers feel that they understand how to run meetings so well that they hardly need to prepare at all.· It hardly needs saying that how this story is told will depend upon philosophical argument.· But such a visit hardly needs a precise purpose to be fruitful.· How I welcomed Night Duty, I need hardly say.
· It will then be so interested in setting up new territories that it will hardly notice the newcomer.· They hardly notice when I walk up with the General who has chosen my horse already and his name is Dancing Dan.· Her head throbbed in rhythm with her bruises, yet she'd hardly noticed any of it downstairs.· The punditocracy in our country has been so one-sided for so long that we hardly notice the routine tilt anymore.· I lay there for a long time unhappy and hardly noticing the daily noises of the block assembling round me.· The sky was darkly overcast, but he hardly noticed the weather.· I'd hardly noticed them really.· When she came out to be interviewed earlier that spring, she hardly noticed the weather.
· Nothing much. Hardly saw each other.· I had spent all of 1972 campaigning and hardly saw them at all.· You couldn't hardly see across the room sometimes.· You hardly saw a car in western Nebraska in those days.· She ended the first day with a headache so severe she could hardly see.· Both Hera and Aphrodite bear children, but we hardly see these Goddesses in this capacity.· I could hardly see, I was crying so much.· We hardly saw each other, let alone our children.
· The Goblin horde seemed hardly diminished.· Christine under-stands only a little Uchinaguchi, but that hardly seems to matter.· He supposed that Mr Cottle could not be ruled out as a suspect, but he hardly seemed a likely killer.· But more low-paying jobs hardly seems like an adequate response to the problem.· In fact, it seems hardly possible.· Plus the Warriors' new fast-paced offense hardly seems suited for the plodding Marshall.· For Cranmer, who headed the party of Reform for the next twenty years, the task seemed hardly begun.· All of this was fine with Jim, though it hardly seemed of major import.
· In fact she hardly spoke for days.· The lady hardly speaks just for herself.· But ... she'd hardly spoken to Adam since the morning he'd returned from Starr Hills.· I could hardly speak Songhai anymore.· The two officers who had hardly spoken were beginning to fidget on their chairs.· Once a fine orator, he hardly spoke now.· Cal and her mum were hardly speaking to each other.· She walked quickly and hardly spoke to him.
· It is hardly surprising that collections of such photographs hold great personal importance.· Given the class size of more than 60 it's hardly surprising that the teaching methods have to be quite traditional.· And it is hardly surprising that she did not think of tongue speaking as a possible exception.· It was hardly surprising that many among that particular audience immediately recognised him and gathered round.· It is hardly surprising that it is beginning to go missing.· Hardly surprising then that budgets were kept low and most films were aimed at the television audience.· It is, therefore, hardly surprising that they find themselves subjected to a similar neglect.
· I could hardly wait to get in those bars.· She could hardly wait to start.· I can hardly wait to hear about left temporal lobe epileptics.· I can hardly wait - I hear some of John's outfits are quite stunning.· This paper's radio critic can hardly wait.· Well, I could hardly wait for the fight ahead.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► I don’t blame you/you can hardly blame him etc► somebody can’t wait/can hardly wait
- Brent hardly ever calls me anymore.
- We hardly ever go out to eat.
- From that day on Bill and Kath have hardly ever thrown anything away.
- I hardly ever write letters any more.
- Many people think museums make lots of money on big shows, but in truth, they hardly ever break even.
- She gave cheap advice and charge mini-mum fees, hardly ever collecting on past due accounts.
- The charm of it hardly ever fails.
- Theo's occasional complaints, hardly ever voiced directly, were usually muted and so we fail to take note of them.
- Universities have hardly ever been held in lower esteem.
- You know kids who always do their schoolwork and kids who hardly ever do their class and homework assignments.
- Birds have never been one of my major interests, I need hardly say.
- How I welcomed Night Duty, I need hardly say.
- I need hardly say how heartily I sympathize with the purposes of the Audubon Society.
- I need hardly say that I don't care to have things so.
- I need hardly say that my wife's first impression of Lewis differed somewhat from my own.
- Mr Bawn, I need hardly tell you, is a man of considerable dignity and I would not leave him here.
- Type 4 I need hardly say how glad I am.
- Alas, no sooner had he started than he realised it was no longer what he wanted.
- But no sooner had Miriam gone than Harry suddenly returned looking more cheerful than one might have expected.
- No sooner had he gone than one of the cameramen approached.
- No sooner had it begun than the rain seemed to end.
WORD FAMILYnounhardshiphardnesshardinessadjectivehardhardenedhardyadverbhardhardlyverbharden
1almost not: My parents divorced when I was six, and I hardly knew my father. The children were so excited they could hardly speak. I can hardly believe it. Hardly anyone (=almost no one) writes to me these days. Dad ate hardly anything (=almost nothing). There was hardly any (=very little) traffic. She lives in Spain, so we hardly ever (=almost never) see her.hardly a day/week/month etc goes by without/when (=used to say that something happens almost every day, week etc) Hardly a month goes by without another factory closing down.2used to mean ‘not’, when you are suggesting that the person you are speaking to will agree with you: It’s hardly surprising that she won’t answer his calls after the way he’s treated her. You can hardly blame Tom for not waiting. My boss could hardly be described as handsome.hardly the time/place/person etc (=a very unsuitable time, place, person etc) This is hardly the place to discuss the matter.3used to say that something has only just happened: The building work has hardly begun.had hardly ... when/before She had hardly sat down when the phone rang.GRAMMARWord order• Hardly usually comes before a main verb: · He hardly said a word.• Hardly comes after the first auxiliary verb: · I can hardly believe you said that.· We could hardly have known what was going to happen next. ✗Don’t say: I hardly can believe you said that.• Hardly usually comes after the verb ‘be’ when it is used in simple tenses such as ‘is’ or ‘was’: · This was hardly surprising.• In writing, you can use hardly at the beginning of a sentence before an auxiliary to say that one thing happens very soon after another thing: · Hardly had the rain stopped, when the sun came out.NegativesYou say hardly any: · There’s hardly any milk. ✗Don’t say: There’s hardly no milk.Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSUSAGE: Hard, hardlyHardly is not the adverb of hard. The adverb of hard is hard: · I work hard. ✗Don’t say: I work hardly.