Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
precious little / precious few
idiomatic expression
/ˈprɛʃəs ˈlɪtəl/ /ˈprɛʃəs fjuː/
Definition
A phrase used to indicate that there is very little or very few of something.
Examples
- She had precious little time to finish her project before the deadline.
- There are precious few opportunities for advancement in that company.
Meaning
The expression ‘precious little’ refers to an extremely small amount of something, while ‘precious few’ indicates an extremely small number of things. Both phrases convey a sense of scarcity.
Synonyms
- hardly any
- scarce
- minimal
- very few
- insignificant
