slim

Everyday

1. Thin in an attractive or healthy way: a slim girl, a slim phone. tree →
2. Small in amount; not likely: a slim chance, a slim lead. tree →
3. (verb, UK) To try to lose weight by eating less. tree →
4. (verb) Slim down: to make smaller or reduce: "The school slimmed down the timetable." tree →

In the lessons

In descriptions "slim" is a kind word for thin (kinder than "skinny"). In sports and news "a slim chance" or "a slim lead" means only a little: a team winning by one goal has a slim lead. Health lessons teach that bodies come in all shapes and that being healthy matters more than being slim. Phrases: slim chance, slim chances, slim down, slim volume (a thin book).

Examples

• The new tablet is very slim. tree →
• There is only a slim chance of snow tomorrow. tree →
• Our team had a slim lead of one point. tree →
• My aunt is tall and slim. tree →
• The company slimmed down to save money. tree →
• He read a slim book of poems. tree →
• Is there a slim hope they will find the lost cat? Yes, a slim one. tree →
• It was a lady, tall and slim, and glittering. tree →

Note

Forms: slim, slimmer, slimmest; verb: slimmed, slimming (double m). Slim is polite; skinny can sound rude. Trap: "slim chance" and "fat chance" both mean almost no chance! In maths stories, "a slim majority" means only a few more votes than the others.