spread thin

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Having too many things to do or cover, so that none gets enough attention or energy.

   Grammar: Used after be, get, or become, and often with too: the team is spread too thin.

   Patterns

   • be spread thin
   • be spread too thin
   • get spread thin

   With only three nurses on the ward, the staff are really spread thin.

   Our volunteers are spread thin across five different projects.

   By December the family budget was spread thin and there was nothing left for extras.

2. 2phraseidiom

   Covering only a small amount over a wide area, so that the layer is not thick.

   Grammar: Used literally for substances such as paint, butter, or cream on a surface.

   Patterns

   • be spread thin
   • spread something thin

   The butter was spread thin, so the toast tasted quite dry.

   Spread the glue thin and let it dry for ten minutes.

Common combinations

be spread too thin

The charity is spread too thin to help everyone who asks.

be stretched thin

After the storm, emergency services were stretched thin.

spread yourself thin

Don't spread yourself thin by joining every club.

resources are spread thin

With a small budget, our resources are spread thin.

Synonyms and how they differ

overstretched

Describes people or systems pushed beyond their limits; it is stronger and more negative than spread thin.

stretched

A near match in phrases like 'stretched too thin', but on its own it just means pulled tight or used to the limit.

Opposites

Word family

spread verb

to open something out or put a layer of it over a surface

thinly adverb

in a thin layer or with few people or things

Commonly confused: spread thin or thin on the ground?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “spread thin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words