slim
B1Neutral to formal; common in everyday, business, and health contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Having a small width or circumference relative to length or height; attractively thin.
Small in amount, degree, or likelihood; meagre, slight, or poor. Also, to reduce one's weight by dieting and exercise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, 'slim' often has a positive connotation of being attractively thin, unlike 'skinny' or 'scrawny'. As a verb, it is often used in the context of intentional weight loss or business downsizing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'slim' similarly. The verb 'slim down' is slightly more common in British English for personal weight loss, while American English may also use 'trim down'.
Connotations
In both, the adjective is positive for people. In business contexts ('slim chance', 'slim profits'), it is neutral-negative.
Frequency
Comparatively high frequency in both varieties, with very similar usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[slim + noun] (e.g., slim chance)[slim down] (phrasal verb)[verb + slim] (e.g., stay slim, look slim)[slim + to + infinitive] (e.g., slim to fit into the dress)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “slim pickings (very few or poor choices available)”
- “slim to none (almost no chance at all)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to small margins, reduced profits, or downsizing operations (e.g., 'slimmed-down workforce').
Academic
Used to describe slight evidence, narrow majorities in data, or concise publications.
Everyday
Most common for describing body shape, chances, or small amounts.
Technical
In design/tech, describes sleek, thin products (e.g., 'slim laptop').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She's trying to slim for her holiday.
- The company needs to slim down its operations.
American English
- He slimmed down before the reunion.
- They're slimming the budget for next quarter.
adverb
British English
- The phone is designed slim and light.
American English
- The new model cuts slim through the water.
adjective
British English
- He has a very slim build.
- There's a slim chance of rain later.
American English
- She kept a slim figure all her life.
- The team won by a slim margin.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister is tall and slim.
- This book is very slim and easy to carry.
- The chances of finding my lost ring are slim.
- He wants to slim down before the summer.
- The government's slim majority made passing the law difficult.
- After the merger, the department was slimmed down considerably.
- The evidence for this historical claim is frustratingly slim.
- Investors were disappointed by the company's slim profits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SLIM, sleek phone that slips easily into your pocket. The 'SL' sounds like 'sleek' and 'slip', both associated with thinness.
Conceptual Metaphor
LESS IS THIN (e.g., slim profits, slim chance). DESIRABILITY IS A SLIM SHAPE (positive body image).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'slim' as 'худой' in all contexts, as 'худой' can be negative ('scrawny'). Use 'стройный' for positive thinness.
- The verb 'to slim' (похудеть) implies intentional action, not just being thin.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'slim' to describe flat objects (use 'thin').
- Confusing 'slim' (positive) with 'skinny' (often neutral/negative).
- Incorrect: 'The paper is very slim.' (Correct: 'The paper is very thin.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'slim' have a clearly POSITIVE connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when describing a person's body shape, it is generally a positive term meaning 'attractively thin'.
'Slim' is positive, 'thin' is neutral, and 'skinny' can be neutral or slightly negative, implying possibly too thin.
Yes, but typically for 3D objects with a small circumference (e.g., a slim bottle, a slim phone). For flat, 2D objects, use 'thin' (e.g., thin paper).
It is neutral and acceptable in semi-formal contexts (e.g., business, health). In very formal writing, 'reduce' or 'downsize' might be preferred.