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单词 less
释义
less1 adverbless2 determiner, pronounless3 preposition
lessless1 /les/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.
  • I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.
  • Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.
  • Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.
  • Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.
  • This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.
  • Tickets were less expensive than I expected.
  • We go to movies less often than we used to.
  • With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.
  • You should drive less and walk more often.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • But retail investors are trading less and borrowing less from their brokers, cutting the industry's core profits.
  • But there has been a good deal less successful cross-border brand-building in the confectionery division.
  • Cycling was certainly less hazardous than today, as petrol rationing restricted motor traffic.
  • Gradual changes are much less traumatic than sudden changes.
  • How, they ask, can we entrust this task to some one whose character is anything less than spotless?
  • However, the adaptation to changing potassium intakes is less rapid and less complete than for sodium.
  • They are less depressed, less likely to become addicted to drugs and less likely to commit suicide.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatora smaller amount or number
a smaller amount of something. Less is used with uncountable nouns: · I earn less money now than I did then.· Surgery patients now spend much less time in the hospital.· Statistics show that nowadays people drink less beer and smoke fewer cigarettes than they used to.less than: · He always travels by bus because it costs less than travelling by train.· Clive knows even less than I do about this business.· It's a bit less than a mile from here to the station.far less/a lot less: · As a result of these improvements, the car uses far less fuel.less of: · Studies show that people who receive medication when their pain first starts need less of it than people who wait longer.less and less (=when an amount keeps getting smaller as time passes): · As the drought became worse, there was less and less food available.
a smaller number of people or things. Fewer is used with countable nouns: · Schools in the suburbs have fewer discipline problems and better student attitudes.· Spending cuts will mean fewer social workers.fewer than: · No reservations are needed for groups of fewer than 15.far fewer/a lot fewer: · There were far fewer women at the conference this year than last.fewer and fewer: · Since 1985, fewer and fewer people have been drinking decaffeinated coffee, and the trend shows no signs of halting.
less than an amount. Not as much and not so much are used with uncountable nouns.: · There's a lot of snow on the upper slopes of the mountain, but there's not so much down here.not as much/not so much as: · The Chinese don't eat as much meat as Americans do.· Jim worked hard, but didn't earn as much money as he wanted.not as much/not so much of: · I didn't eat as much of the fish as Al, but I still got sick.
fewer than a number of people or things. Not as many and not so many are used with countable nouns: · "Last year our gift shop did very well," said Amy. "But this year we haven't had as many customers coming through the door."· Law firms aren't hiring as many associates this year.· I don't own nearly as many clothes as my sister.· If I get milk and orange juice from the milkman, I don't need to make as many trips to the grocery store.
less than another number or level - use this about prices, wages, temperatures, grades, and other things that can be measured on a scale from high to low: · Foreign workers have fewer rights and get lower wages.· The program is broadcast in the morning, a time when advertising rates are much lower.lower than: · I got lower grades than the other students in my class.
if people of a particular type are in the minority in a particular group, they form less than half of the total group: · In the boardrooms of most big corporations, women are in the minority.· Quentin's supporters were clearly in a minority as the City Council heard arguments for his dismissal.
less than a number or amount
· Some of the miners were earning less than $2 an hour.· There she was, less than ten feet away from me, walking past with the other guests of honour.for less than · The average income here is far less than the national average.
less than a particular age, price, amount, or number: · Children under 16 will not be admitted without an adult.· Where can you get a meal for under $5?well under: · The stock market's highest point this week was well under what was predicted.
less than a particular temperature, speed, limit, or level: · At night, the temperature is often below freezing.fall below something (=become less than): · The inflation rate has fallen below 6%.far/well below: · The school's test scores are far below average.
a lower figure, amount, rate, level etc is less than the one you have already mentioned: · They rejected our estimate and suggested a lower figure.· There's no doubt that lower energy prices are having some short-term impact on the stock market.lower than: · The divorce rate in Japan is much lower than in the U.S.
at some point that is less than a particular period of time, distance, or limit: · The top prize is a trip to Hawaii, which must be taken within a year of the prize drawing.· Pupils living within two miles of the school are expected to pay their own bus fares.
: minus five/ten/twenty etc use this about numbers that are less than zero or temperatures that are below zero degrees: · When we take away points for hitting obstacles, you get a final score of minus seven.· Tonight's low temperatures could reach minus twenty degrees in some areas.
less interesting, expensive, difficult, exciting etc
· Their first album sold over a million copies, but the second one wasn't as popular.not as ... as · It's not as cold as it was yesterday.· The beef was good, but it wasn't as tender as the chicken.· "How was the test?" "Not as bad as I expected."
· Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.less ... than · I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.less and less (=becoming less interesting, expensive etc all the time) · With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.
when something happens less than before
: less than · This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.a lot less · Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.less and less (=when something keeps getting less as time passes) · He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.
· Stan probably won't need to travel as much in his new job.not as much as · "Do you still go swimming?" "Not as much as I used to."
when prices, numbers etc become less
to become less: · Attendance at the school's basketball games has gone down significantly in the last few years.· I'm hoping the price will come down if I wait a while.
to become less, especially by a large amount: · Sales have fallen dramatically in Houston and Toronto.fall/drop to: · At night, the temperature drops to -20°C.fall/drop from something to something: · Profits fell from £98.5 million to £76 million.
to become less - used especially in writing about business or technical subjects: · Experts say that the time parents spend with their children is decreasing.decrease to: · The speed of rotation gradually decreases to zero.
a gradual decrease in the number or amount of something good or important so that the situation becomes worse: · Firms with large debts may not have the financial strength to survive a prolonged sales decline or a recession.decline in: · We can expect a further decline in job vacancies.
when a price, level etc is reduced - use this when something is reduced deliberately: · New production methods led to a cost reduction of about 50 percent.reduction in: · Cleaner fuel has contributed to a reduction in air pollution.· a reduction in working hours
a reduction in the amount or size of something made by a government or large organization - use this especially when talking about politics or business: cut in: · Cuts in the education budget have led to fewer teachers and larger classes.pay/job/tax cuts (=cuts in wages, number of jobs, or taxes): · The whole team agreed to take pay cuts, rather than see their colleagues lose their jobs.· Some senators have called for huge tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
to drop very rapidly and by a large amount: · As soon as the sun went down, the temperature plummeted.· The drought has caused the price of hay to soar, and the price of cattle has plummeted.plummet/plunge 20 degrees/thirty points etc: · The stock market plunged 30 points when the news was announced.
if a number or the amount of activity happening tapers off , it gradually decreases: · Towards sunset, the rain began to taper off.
if supplies or numbers of something dwindle , they gradually decrease: · The country's foreign currency reserves have dwindled over the past few years.dwindle to: · The original platoon of 30 men had dwindled to 12.
if a price or value slides it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems - used especially in news reports: · Prices will continue to slide unless production is reduced.· The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
also nosedive informal if the price or value of something takes a nosedive , it becomes lower very quickly and causes problems. If an economy takes a nosedive it become worse very quickly: · Since January, sales of cars and trucks, including minivans, have nosedived.· Shares on the stock exchange took another nosedive Friday.
when feelings, qualities etc become less strong
· Over time, the pain usually lessens, but this may take several months.· My love for the countryside has never lessened.
if something such as fear, anxiety, trouble or laughter subsides , it gradually decreases: · After the rebel leaders were captured or killed, the trouble subsided.· The speaker puffed on his cigar while he waited for the laughter to subside.
if something such as people's liking or support for something or someone wanes , that feeling gradually becomes slightly less and will probably continue to decrease: · His popularity in the state began to wane almost immediately after the election.· Some countries' taste for purely American pop culture has waned.
if a possibility or chance recedes , it gradually becomes less and less likely: · Since Donald lost his job, the hopes of our buying a house have receded even further.· As the threat of nuclear war receded, other things began to worry us.
approximately correct
· Yes, that's roughly the right answer.· As long as you know roughly how to do it, that's fine.
if something is more or less correct, it is good or correct enough to be accepted even if it is not perfect: · What she says is more or less true.· "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
informal spoken said when you think something is approximately right or true, but not exactly: · It's kind of circular-shaped, but not exactly.· "Did you finish your homework?" "Well, sort of."
informal if you are in the right ballpark , what you have guessed is not exactly correct, but is close to being correct: · "I'd think a project like this would take at least five years to complete." "Not quite as long as that, but you're in the right ballpark."
when something is almost true
· His hair was almost white.· The moon was almost full that night.· Persuading Paul to change his mind is nearly impossible.
not completely, but almost - use this to say that something is not true, but it is almost true: · That's a good answer but it's not quite correct.· It's not quite red, it's more like a maroon color.· The orbits of the planets are almost circular, but not quite.
very nearly: · The cupboard was practically empty.· Carbon fibre tennis racquets are virtually unbreakable.· She looks practically the same as his last girlfriend.
especially spoken very nearly - use this when saying that the difference is not important: · All the rooms are more or less the same size.· His jacket was pretty much the same colour as his trousers.· Until the 18th century, the region remained more or less independent.
if a guess at a number, amount etc is close , it is almost correct but not exactly right: · "I reckon he's about 65." "You're close - he's 67."
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 Social class matters a lot less than it used to.
(=not less) Your second point is no less important. It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing. I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.
(=be not so much like one thing as another) ‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
 Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds.
 Can we have a bit less noise, please?
 They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.
 I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.
 You could at least say that you’re sorry.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
 I enjoyed it far more than I expected.
 We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers.
 Her headaches are becoming less frequent.
 Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.
· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
 The journey took longer than normal.
(=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
 We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
 The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.
 Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • Although he did not reject a fact-finding mission outright, Major was clearly less than enthusiastic about the idea.
  • But in the same interview Mr Dole, as is his way, was a little less than helpful to the president.
  • But the way in which they are present may be less than helpful.
  • In this dilemma, Eliot was less than helpful to his apologists.
  • Not surprisingly, the reaction of local residents to the schemes was less than enthusiastic.
  • The refugees are naturally less than enthusiastic about this.
  • Those who had known him from that earlier period, however, were less than enthusiastic about his elevation.
  • The fighting has become less and less frequent.
  • They began spending less and less time with each other.
  • As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.
  • Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.
  • However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.
  • It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.
  • It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.
  • Now I seem to care less and less.
  • She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.
  • Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.
  • The average person is unlikely to pick up this type of book, much less read it.
  • Equally, science would be much less advanced than it is if the only available data were intuitive estimates of quantities.
  • Half a century earlier his behaviour would have seemed much more normal and aroused much less criticism.
  • In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
  • On the battlefield armament was still much less important than discipline and fighting spirit.
  • She could not afford the bus fare to see a doctor, much less his fee.
  • The grouping of other languages of the world-and even of their number-is much less clear.
  • There is not much chance of finding a razor blade, much less using it in the appropriate way.
  • There was to be no pause for reflection, nor - much less - for a changeover from military to civilian rule.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody couldn’t care less
  • The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
  • Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
  • He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
  • His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
  • In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
  • It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
  • Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
  • The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
  • All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
  • All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
  • All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
  • Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
  • Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
  • In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
  • They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
  • With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
► more haste less speed► well-known/little-known/lesser-known
  • Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
  • Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
  • And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
  • Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
  • And last but not least, the baby of the family.
  • And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
  • And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
  • And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
  • And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
  • There were 50 people there, more or less.
  • This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
  • What she says is more or less true.
  • Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
  • And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
  • As things are, it's more or less useless.
  • Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
  • Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
  • Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
  • The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
  • This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
  • And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
  • However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
  • Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
  • Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
  • She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
  • This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
  • I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
  • Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
  • Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
  • I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
  • In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
  • Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
  • That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
  • The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
  • Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
  • Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
  • They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
  • But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
  • He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
  • In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
  • It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
  • Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
  • Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
  • The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
  • The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
  • If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
  • Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
  • Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
  • The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
  • Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
  • When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
  • As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
  • Cartoonish, to say the least.
  • It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
  • The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
  • The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
  • The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
  • There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
  • Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
1not so much or to a smaller degree OPP  more:  Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation. In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.less (...) than Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.much/a lot/far less Social class matters a lot less than it used to.not ... any the less/no less (=not less) Your second point is no less important. It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing. I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another) ‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.2 less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc:  He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.3less and less used to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases OPP  more and more:  As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation. Smoking is becoming less and less acceptable.4much/still less used to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned:  These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume. I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself.
less1 adverbless2 determiner, pronounless3 preposition
lessless2 ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatora smaller amount or number
a smaller amount of something. Less is used with uncountable nouns: · I earn less money now than I did then.· Surgery patients now spend much less time in the hospital.· Statistics show that nowadays people drink less beer and smoke fewer cigarettes than they used to.less than: · He always travels by bus because it costs less than travelling by train.· Clive knows even less than I do about this business.· It's a bit less than a mile from here to the station.far less/a lot less: · As a result of these improvements, the car uses far less fuel.less of: · Studies show that people who receive medication when their pain first starts need less of it than people who wait longer.less and less (=when an amount keeps getting smaller as time passes): · As the drought became worse, there was less and less food available.
a smaller number of people or things. Fewer is used with countable nouns: · Schools in the suburbs have fewer discipline problems and better student attitudes.· Spending cuts will mean fewer social workers.fewer than: · No reservations are needed for groups of fewer than 15.far fewer/a lot fewer: · There were far fewer women at the conference this year than last.fewer and fewer: · Since 1985, fewer and fewer people have been drinking decaffeinated coffee, and the trend shows no signs of halting.
less than an amount. Not as much and not so much are used with uncountable nouns.: · There's a lot of snow on the upper slopes of the mountain, but there's not so much down here.not as much/not so much as: · The Chinese don't eat as much meat as Americans do.· Jim worked hard, but didn't earn as much money as he wanted.not as much/not so much of: · I didn't eat as much of the fish as Al, but I still got sick.
fewer than a number of people or things. Not as many and not so many are used with countable nouns: · "Last year our gift shop did very well," said Amy. "But this year we haven't had as many customers coming through the door."· Law firms aren't hiring as many associates this year.· I don't own nearly as many clothes as my sister.· If I get milk and orange juice from the milkman, I don't need to make as many trips to the grocery store.
less than another number or level - use this about prices, wages, temperatures, grades, and other things that can be measured on a scale from high to low: · Foreign workers have fewer rights and get lower wages.· The program is broadcast in the morning, a time when advertising rates are much lower.lower than: · I got lower grades than the other students in my class.
if people of a particular type are in the minority in a particular group, they form less than half of the total group: · In the boardrooms of most big corporations, women are in the minority.· Quentin's supporters were clearly in a minority as the City Council heard arguments for his dismissal.
less than a number or amount
· Some of the miners were earning less than $2 an hour.· There she was, less than ten feet away from me, walking past with the other guests of honour.for less than · The average income here is far less than the national average.
less than a particular age, price, amount, or number: · Children under 16 will not be admitted without an adult.· Where can you get a meal for under $5?well under: · The stock market's highest point this week was well under what was predicted.
less than a particular temperature, speed, limit, or level: · At night, the temperature is often below freezing.fall below something (=become less than): · The inflation rate has fallen below 6%.far/well below: · The school's test scores are far below average.
a lower figure, amount, rate, level etc is less than the one you have already mentioned: · They rejected our estimate and suggested a lower figure.· There's no doubt that lower energy prices are having some short-term impact on the stock market.lower than: · The divorce rate in Japan is much lower than in the U.S.
at some point that is less than a particular period of time, distance, or limit: · The top prize is a trip to Hawaii, which must be taken within a year of the prize drawing.· Pupils living within two miles of the school are expected to pay their own bus fares.
: minus five/ten/twenty etc use this about numbers that are less than zero or temperatures that are below zero degrees: · When we take away points for hitting obstacles, you get a final score of minus seven.· Tonight's low temperatures could reach minus twenty degrees in some areas.
less interesting, expensive, difficult, exciting etc
· Their first album sold over a million copies, but the second one wasn't as popular.not as ... as · It's not as cold as it was yesterday.· The beef was good, but it wasn't as tender as the chicken.· "How was the test?" "Not as bad as I expected."
· Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.less ... than · I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.less and less (=becoming less interesting, expensive etc all the time) · With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.
when something happens less than before
: less than · This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.a lot less · Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.less and less (=when something keeps getting less as time passes) · He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.
· Stan probably won't need to travel as much in his new job.not as much as · "Do you still go swimming?" "Not as much as I used to."
when prices, numbers etc become less
to become less: · Attendance at the school's basketball games has gone down significantly in the last few years.· I'm hoping the price will come down if I wait a while.
to become less, especially by a large amount: · Sales have fallen dramatically in Houston and Toronto.fall/drop to: · At night, the temperature drops to -20°C.fall/drop from something to something: · Profits fell from £98.5 million to £76 million.
to become less - used especially in writing about business or technical subjects: · Experts say that the time parents spend with their children is decreasing.decrease to: · The speed of rotation gradually decreases to zero.
a gradual decrease in the number or amount of something good or important so that the situation becomes worse: · Firms with large debts may not have the financial strength to survive a prolonged sales decline or a recession.decline in: · We can expect a further decline in job vacancies.
when a price, level etc is reduced - use this when something is reduced deliberately: · New production methods led to a cost reduction of about 50 percent.reduction in: · Cleaner fuel has contributed to a reduction in air pollution.· a reduction in working hours
a reduction in the amount or size of something made by a government or large organization - use this especially when talking about politics or business: cut in: · Cuts in the education budget have led to fewer teachers and larger classes.pay/job/tax cuts (=cuts in wages, number of jobs, or taxes): · The whole team agreed to take pay cuts, rather than see their colleagues lose their jobs.· Some senators have called for huge tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
to drop very rapidly and by a large amount: · As soon as the sun went down, the temperature plummeted.· The drought has caused the price of hay to soar, and the price of cattle has plummeted.plummet/plunge 20 degrees/thirty points etc: · The stock market plunged 30 points when the news was announced.
if a number or the amount of activity happening tapers off , it gradually decreases: · Towards sunset, the rain began to taper off.
if supplies or numbers of something dwindle , they gradually decrease: · The country's foreign currency reserves have dwindled over the past few years.dwindle to: · The original platoon of 30 men had dwindled to 12.
if a price or value slides it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems - used especially in news reports: · Prices will continue to slide unless production is reduced.· The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
also nosedive informal if the price or value of something takes a nosedive , it becomes lower very quickly and causes problems. If an economy takes a nosedive it become worse very quickly: · Since January, sales of cars and trucks, including minivans, have nosedived.· Shares on the stock exchange took another nosedive Friday.
when feelings, qualities etc become less strong
· Over time, the pain usually lessens, but this may take several months.· My love for the countryside has never lessened.
if something such as fear, anxiety, trouble or laughter subsides , it gradually decreases: · After the rebel leaders were captured or killed, the trouble subsided.· The speaker puffed on his cigar while he waited for the laughter to subside.
if something such as people's liking or support for something or someone wanes , that feeling gradually becomes slightly less and will probably continue to decrease: · His popularity in the state began to wane almost immediately after the election.· Some countries' taste for purely American pop culture has waned.
if a possibility or chance recedes , it gradually becomes less and less likely: · Since Donald lost his job, the hopes of our buying a house have receded even further.· As the threat of nuclear war receded, other things began to worry us.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 a distance of less than 100 metres
 It costs much less to go by bus.
 The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
 Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds.
 Can we have a bit less noise, please?
 They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.
 I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.
 You could at least say that you’re sorry.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
 I enjoyed it far more than I expected.
 We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers.
 Her headaches are becoming less frequent.
 Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.
· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
 The journey took longer than normal.
(=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
 We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
 The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.
 Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► less of something
  • And if his comparison was contrived, it is no less valid for that.
  • And now ... Ace's face was no less expressive.
  • Housman's style is no less vulnerable to the distortions of the rhymed quatrain.
  • It is no less barbaric than killing people on a street corner.
  • One could remain in life, in the selfless performance of secular tasks, and arrive no less securely at the goal.
  • This helped Airtours generate no less than £8m in interest alone during the year.
  • Yet priorities are no less a matter of concern here than in other areas.
  • The change in Bob's behavior has been nothing less than a miracle.
  • He is aware that what he is involved in now is nothing less than Thatcherite self-help.
  • It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
  • It is nothing less than national economic and social suicide.
  • The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
  • There is nothing less than a cultural cover-up about depression in men.
  • They had stumbled in upon what was quite clearly nothing less than a pagan sacrifice.
  • This gave her hope, for it was nothing less than a re-birth that Maggie was aiming for.
  • As the war progressed, this position be-came less and less tenable and was eventually discarded.
  • Changes over the course of 250 years meant that realities accorded less and less with formal appearances and official regulations.
  • However, they are less and less willing either to hide or to lead lives of celibacy.
  • It is merely that there is less and less justification for her position.
  • It turned out not to be much-and, as it happened, he needed less and less as time went on.
  • Now I seem to care less and less.
  • She liked the mail-order concept, saying that working women have less and less time to shop at stores.
  • Staff were separated less and less from pupils; they used the same library and the same resource centres.
► in less than no timePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody couldn’t care less
  • The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
  • Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
  • He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
  • His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
  • In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
  • It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
  • Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
  • The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
  • All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
  • All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
  • All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
  • Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
  • Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
  • In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
  • They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
  • With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
► more haste less speed► well-known/little-known/lesser-known
  • Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
  • Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
  • And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
  • Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
  • And last but not least, the baby of the family.
  • And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
  • And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
  • And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
  • And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
  • There were 50 people there, more or less.
  • This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
  • What she says is more or less true.
  • Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
  • And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
  • As things are, it's more or less useless.
  • Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
  • Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
  • Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
  • The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
  • This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
  • And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
  • However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
  • Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
  • Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
  • She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
  • This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
  • I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
  • Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
  • Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
  • I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
  • In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
  • Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
  • That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
  • The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
  • Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
  • Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
  • They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
  • But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
  • He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
  • In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
  • It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
  • Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
  • Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
  • The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
  • The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
  • If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
  • Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
  • Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
  • The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
  • Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
  • When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
  • As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
  • Cartoonish, to say the least.
  • It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
  • The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
  • The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
  • The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
  • There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
  • Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
1a smaller amount or not as much OPP  more:  Doctors recommend eating less salt. People today seem to have less time for each other. Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less.less of The map covered less of the area than I’d thought. Flying is less of a risk than driving.less (...) than She knows less than I do about it.less than 10/100 etc a distance of less than 100 metresmuch/a lot less It costs much less to go by bus.USAGE: Less, fewer• You use less before an uncountable noun: · These light bulbs use less electricity.• You use fewer before a plural noun: · There were fewer cars in those days. ✗Don't say: There were less cars in those days. Although you will hear people say this in everyday spoken English, it is considered to be incorrect.2 no less a)used to emphasize that an amount or number is largeno less than By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil. b)used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive:  Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less. The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.3nothing less than something used to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is:  His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.4less and less a decreasing amount of something OPP  more and more:  They began spending less and less time together.less of The band was doing less and less of that kind of music.5in less than no time very quickly or very soon:  In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.6less of something British English spoken used to tell a child to stop doing something:  Less of that noise, please!
less1 adverbless2 determiner, pronounless3 preposition
lessless3 preposition formal Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatora smaller amount or number
a smaller amount of something. Less is used with uncountable nouns: · I earn less money now than I did then.· Surgery patients now spend much less time in the hospital.· Statistics show that nowadays people drink less beer and smoke fewer cigarettes than they used to.less than: · He always travels by bus because it costs less than travelling by train.· Clive knows even less than I do about this business.· It's a bit less than a mile from here to the station.far less/a lot less: · As a result of these improvements, the car uses far less fuel.less of: · Studies show that people who receive medication when their pain first starts need less of it than people who wait longer.less and less (=when an amount keeps getting smaller as time passes): · As the drought became worse, there was less and less food available.
a smaller number of people or things. Fewer is used with countable nouns: · Schools in the suburbs have fewer discipline problems and better student attitudes.· Spending cuts will mean fewer social workers.fewer than: · No reservations are needed for groups of fewer than 15.far fewer/a lot fewer: · There were far fewer women at the conference this year than last.fewer and fewer: · Since 1985, fewer and fewer people have been drinking decaffeinated coffee, and the trend shows no signs of halting.
less than an amount. Not as much and not so much are used with uncountable nouns.: · There's a lot of snow on the upper slopes of the mountain, but there's not so much down here.not as much/not so much as: · The Chinese don't eat as much meat as Americans do.· Jim worked hard, but didn't earn as much money as he wanted.not as much/not so much of: · I didn't eat as much of the fish as Al, but I still got sick.
fewer than a number of people or things. Not as many and not so many are used with countable nouns: · "Last year our gift shop did very well," said Amy. "But this year we haven't had as many customers coming through the door."· Law firms aren't hiring as many associates this year.· I don't own nearly as many clothes as my sister.· If I get milk and orange juice from the milkman, I don't need to make as many trips to the grocery store.
less than another number or level - use this about prices, wages, temperatures, grades, and other things that can be measured on a scale from high to low: · Foreign workers have fewer rights and get lower wages.· The program is broadcast in the morning, a time when advertising rates are much lower.lower than: · I got lower grades than the other students in my class.
if people of a particular type are in the minority in a particular group, they form less than half of the total group: · In the boardrooms of most big corporations, women are in the minority.· Quentin's supporters were clearly in a minority as the City Council heard arguments for his dismissal.
less than a number or amount
· Some of the miners were earning less than $2 an hour.· There she was, less than ten feet away from me, walking past with the other guests of honour.for less than · The average income here is far less than the national average.
less than a particular age, price, amount, or number: · Children under 16 will not be admitted without an adult.· Where can you get a meal for under $5?well under: · The stock market's highest point this week was well under what was predicted.
less than a particular temperature, speed, limit, or level: · At night, the temperature is often below freezing.fall below something (=become less than): · The inflation rate has fallen below 6%.far/well below: · The school's test scores are far below average.
a lower figure, amount, rate, level etc is less than the one you have already mentioned: · They rejected our estimate and suggested a lower figure.· There's no doubt that lower energy prices are having some short-term impact on the stock market.lower than: · The divorce rate in Japan is much lower than in the U.S.
at some point that is less than a particular period of time, distance, or limit: · The top prize is a trip to Hawaii, which must be taken within a year of the prize drawing.· Pupils living within two miles of the school are expected to pay their own bus fares.
: minus five/ten/twenty etc use this about numbers that are less than zero or temperatures that are below zero degrees: · When we take away points for hitting obstacles, you get a final score of minus seven.· Tonight's low temperatures could reach minus twenty degrees in some areas.
less interesting, expensive, difficult, exciting etc
· Their first album sold over a million copies, but the second one wasn't as popular.not as ... as · It's not as cold as it was yesterday.· The beef was good, but it wasn't as tender as the chicken.· "How was the test?" "Not as bad as I expected."
· Of course, it would be less expensive to use frozen fish.less ... than · I want something less formal than a traditional wedding dress.less and less (=becoming less interesting, expensive etc all the time) · With the growth of telecommunications, the location of a company's headquarters is becoming less and less important.
when something happens less than before
: less than · This type of problem still occurs, but less than it did in the past.a lot less · Since we got the car, we walk a lot less than we used to.less and less (=when something keeps getting less as time passes) · He seemed to care less and less about the band, and eventually decided to leave.
· Stan probably won't need to travel as much in his new job.not as much as · "Do you still go swimming?" "Not as much as I used to."
when prices, numbers etc become less
to become less: · Attendance at the school's basketball games has gone down significantly in the last few years.· I'm hoping the price will come down if I wait a while.
to become less, especially by a large amount: · Sales have fallen dramatically in Houston and Toronto.fall/drop to: · At night, the temperature drops to -20°C.fall/drop from something to something: · Profits fell from £98.5 million to £76 million.
to become less - used especially in writing about business or technical subjects: · Experts say that the time parents spend with their children is decreasing.decrease to: · The speed of rotation gradually decreases to zero.
a gradual decrease in the number or amount of something good or important so that the situation becomes worse: · Firms with large debts may not have the financial strength to survive a prolonged sales decline or a recession.decline in: · We can expect a further decline in job vacancies.
when a price, level etc is reduced - use this when something is reduced deliberately: · New production methods led to a cost reduction of about 50 percent.reduction in: · Cleaner fuel has contributed to a reduction in air pollution.· a reduction in working hours
a reduction in the amount or size of something made by a government or large organization - use this especially when talking about politics or business: cut in: · Cuts in the education budget have led to fewer teachers and larger classes.pay/job/tax cuts (=cuts in wages, number of jobs, or taxes): · The whole team agreed to take pay cuts, rather than see their colleagues lose their jobs.· Some senators have called for huge tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
to drop very rapidly and by a large amount: · As soon as the sun went down, the temperature plummeted.· The drought has caused the price of hay to soar, and the price of cattle has plummeted.plummet/plunge 20 degrees/thirty points etc: · The stock market plunged 30 points when the news was announced.
if a number or the amount of activity happening tapers off , it gradually decreases: · Towards sunset, the rain began to taper off.
if supplies or numbers of something dwindle , they gradually decrease: · The country's foreign currency reserves have dwindled over the past few years.dwindle to: · The original platoon of 30 men had dwindled to 12.
if a price or value slides it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems - used especially in news reports: · Prices will continue to slide unless production is reduced.· The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
also nosedive informal if the price or value of something takes a nosedive , it becomes lower very quickly and causes problems. If an economy takes a nosedive it become worse very quickly: · Since January, sales of cars and trucks, including minivans, have nosedived.· Shares on the stock exchange took another nosedive Friday.
when feelings, qualities etc become less strong
· Over time, the pain usually lessens, but this may take several months.· My love for the countryside has never lessened.
if something such as fear, anxiety, trouble or laughter subsides , it gradually decreases: · After the rebel leaders were captured or killed, the trouble subsided.· The speaker puffed on his cigar while he waited for the laughter to subside.
if something such as people's liking or support for something or someone wanes , that feeling gradually becomes slightly less and will probably continue to decrease: · His popularity in the state began to wane almost immediately after the election.· Some countries' taste for purely American pop culture has waned.
if a possibility or chance recedes , it gradually becomes less and less likely: · Since Donald lost his job, the hopes of our buying a house have receded even further.· As the threat of nuclear war receded, other things began to worry us.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
 Some of the boys come from less advantaged backgrounds.
 Can we have a bit less noise, please?
 They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.
 I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.
 You could at least say that you’re sorry.
(=a bad thing, but not as bad as something else)· She knew that she couldn't leave the children, so she opted for the lesser evil and stayed.
· Bad luck tends to happen when you least expect it.
(also to less extent) (=less)· The same is true for women, though to a lesser extent.
 I enjoyed it far more than I expected.
 We’ve been more fortunate than a lot of farmers.
 Her headaches are becoming less frequent.
 Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.
· The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
· I hope you have more luck in the next competition.
 The journey took longer than normal.
(=once, and probably more than once)· On at least one occasion he was arrested for robbery.
(=one that is not as serious as another offence)· For rioting you can receive ten years in prison, while for the lesser offence of violent disorder you can receive five years in prison.
 We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it.
(=not perfect)· So many excellent writers, for example Byron and Keats, were less than perfect spellers.
(=see someone more or less often) They’ve seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
 The band is popular and likely to become more so. Jerry is very honest, perhaps too much so.
 Many pensioners are less well-off (=have less money) than they used to be.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody couldn’t care less
  • The organization is collecting canned food to help the less fortunate.
  • Another case of hard-hearted capitalists pushing aside the less fortunate to enhance their investments?
  • He devoted his time to prayer and aiding the less fortunate.
  • His capacity to persuade people to pay attention to the plight of the less fortunate was constant.
  • In the wider world we examine the great differences between countries like our own and the less fortunate poor world.
  • It should be spending them on the less fortunate.
  • Phoenix officials often talk of the helping hand they give to the less fortunate.
  • The proposals include a comprehensive programme of security and protection for all those engaged in helping the less fortunate.
  • All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have been doing this all our lives.
  • All polite exchanges are conventional to a greater or lesser extent.
  • All societies differentiate and, to a greater or lesser extent, allocate unequal rewards on the basis of age.
  • Both historians proceed to a greater or lesser extent by way of discussion of great photographers.
  • Different professional institutions may define to a greater or lesser extent the modes and their mix.
  • In these cases A is to a greater or lesser extent unclear, ambiguous.
  • They also, to a greater or lesser extent, existed outside mainstream, predominantly male controlled, hierarchical structures.
  • With every formal organisation there exists, to a greater or lesser extent, a complex informal organisation.
► more haste less speed► well-known/little-known/lesser-known
  • Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for her support.
  • Last but not least, let me introduce Jane, our new accountant.
  • And last but not least, I thank Begona Canup for her interest in the book.
  • Social Security has reduced poverty, and last, but by no means least, it has been a good deal for participants.
  • And last but not least, the baby of the family.
  • And last but not least, there are all those damn kids sharing files and scaring the media moguls shiftless.
  • And, last but not least, its growth and production has a huge impact on the environment we live in.
  • And, last but not least, my cousin Bishop Malduin of Kinrimund with, no doubt, his stepson Colban.
  • And, last but not least, they might re-read the scores while listening.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • "Did they have what you were looking for at the hardware store?" "Yes, more or less."
  • There were 50 people there, more or less.
  • This report says more or less the same thing as the previous one.
  • What she says is more or less true.
  • Alexei was a mining engineer in the Kuzbas, but he had more or less refashioned himself into a translator.
  • And then I was using it more or less daily for years ...
  • As things are, it's more or less useless.
  • Lesbians, being women, were more or less ignored as in-consequential so long as they were quiet about their sexuality.
  • Look also for R Centauri, a red Mira-type variable more or less between the Pointers.
  • Some programs will let you set the size of the buffer to keep more or less text.
  • The Trilogy helped create this new man of labor, who is more or less a paralegal.
  • This time she saw pebbles laid out over the whole of the surface, more or less evenly spaced.
► the more ..., the more/the less ...
  • A penchant for setting oneself apart and above mere mortals.
  • And together we were emphatically co-operative that neighbouring forces were populated by lesser mortals.
  • However, such models of the universe are not of much interest to us ordinary mortals.
  • Lords, ladies, dukes and duchesses figure prominently among the names as well as more ordinary mortals of obviously substantial means.
  • Miracles can be worked by Him alone, although mere mortals may entreat Him by prayer to perform them on their behalf.
  • She held herself raised by her great prosperity above all that ordinary mortals fear and reverence.
  • This increased exposure allows them to exploit their advantages over more ordinary mortals more easily than their predecessors could.
  • I doubt Clemson will even make the finals, much less win.
  • Even Libertarians, who advocate much less government, are happy to accept public campaign money.
  • Even today, most politicians rarely wear neckties, much less power suits.
  • I will become much less easily tired ... much less easily fatigued ... much less easily discouraged ... much less easily depressed.
  • In the end, the tax brought in much less revenue than originally forecast.
  • Its development costs are not much less than the firm's total asset value.
  • That had to ne injected daily, but her husband recalls the injections being much less frequent.
  • The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is much less assured.
  • Try dowsing without rods: it's much less cumbersome.
  • Japan's economic recovery was seen as nothing less than a miracle.
  • They way they treat their workers is nothing short of barbaric.
  • But of course to Miss Hoity Toity Grenfell, it was nothing less than she expected.
  • He come to the remarkable conclusion that Ardakke was nothing less than the setting for the next evolutionary step for mankind.
  • In such context, between such gilt-lettered cloth-bound boards, the concession was nothing less than munificent.
  • It is nothing less than an opportunity to save or change the world.
  • Learn each week in 60 seconds why fashion is nothing less than a full-time job!
  • Milosevic is nothing less than a traitor.
  • The experience of being on Iona is nothing less than magical and I am moved to tears.
  • The result, and the acceptance of it, is nothing less than an outrage.
  • If you take the line of least resistance or fail to be consistent, you will actually make things worse.
  • Political will in such situations is a low explosive, blasting along the lines of least resistance.
  • Pretty soon, the water, which follows the path of least resistance, has its own plan for your driveway.
  • The priesthood built itself and if we help it along we are only following the line of least resistance.
  • Usually he just takes the line of least resistance.
  • When it constructs its tunnel underground the rabbit, naturally enough, takes the line of least resistance.
  • As captain and opening bat, he's an important member of the side, to say the least.
  • Cartoonish, to say the least.
  • It is a bizarre setting, to say the least, where the boredom and indifference can be measured in metric tons.
  • The lamps look, to say the least, unreliable.
  • The outlook for their national teams is, to say the least, uncertain.
  • The results of these experiments were, to say the least, puzzling to the researchers.
  • There would be a bit of confusion, to say the least.
  • Try as she might, her working relationship with Stephanie Marsa was strained to say the least.
 taking away or not including a particular amount SYN  minus:  What is 121 less 36? He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.
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