Meaning & use
slim margin
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A very small difference between two amounts, results, or scores, especially when success is not certain.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a slim margin', 'by a slim margin', or 'slim margins'.
Patterns
- by a slim margin
- win/lose by a slim margin
- a slim margin of victory
The team won the final by a slim margin of just two points.
The proposal was passed by a slim margin after a long debate.
She kept her lead by a slim margin throughout the race.
Word forms
| plural | slim margins |
|---|
Common combinations
- by a slim margin
- The bill passed by a slim margin.
- win by a slim margin
- The candidate won by a slim margin.
- lose by a slim margin
- They lost the game by a slim margin.
- a slim margin of victory
- The election ended with a slim margin of victory.
Synonyms and how they differ
- narrow margin
- Very similar, but 'narrow margin' is more common in general English; 'slim margin' often suggests the result could easily have gone the other way.
- small margin
- Neutral and common; 'slim margin' is slightly more dramatic and is used especially in news and sports writing.
Opposites
Practice
The team won the championship ___ a slim margin.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'by a slim margin', meaning the difference was very small. 'With' would suggest the margin was a tool or method, 'in' would talk about a place or area, and 'on' does not fit the idea of a difference in results.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slim margin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.