Meaning & use
wiry and spare physique
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
A body type that is thin but strong, with lean muscle and little fat.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a wiry and spare physique' or 'physiques' in the plural. It usually follows 'a' or a possessive like 'his'.
Patterns
- have a wiry and spare physique
- a wiry and spare physique like someone's
- with a wiry and spare physique
The dancer had a wiry and spare physique that made every movement look effortless.
After years of cycling, he developed a wiry and spare physique, all lean muscle and no bulk.
She admired the wiry and spare physique of the long-distance runner.
phrasecountableformalliterary
Used to describe a person or animal as thin, tough, and able to endure hard physical work.
Grammar: Often used in literary or formal writing to suggest toughness rather than weakness. Compare 'skinny', which can sound negative.
Patterns
- a wiry and spare physique suited to something
- his wiry and spare physique
The old farmer still had a wiry and spare physique, hardened by decades of outdoor labor.
Wolves are known for their wiry and spare physique, which helps them travel long distances.
Common combinations
- lean and spare
- His lean and spare frame made him look taller than he was.
- wiry build
- The jockey's wiry build gave him an advantage in the race.
- spare frame
- She had a spare frame but surprising strength.
- wiry and tough
- The mountain guide was wiry and tough, used to harsh conditions.
- of spare physique
- The character was described as of spare physique and quick movement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lean
- Lean means thin and healthy, often without extra fat; it does not always suggest wiry strength, so it can describe someone who is simply slim.
- slim
- Slim means attractively thin; it focuses on appearance rather than strength or toughness, so it is less specific than 'wiry and spare'.
- gaunt
- Gaunt means very thin, often because of hunger or illness, and usually has a negative or pitiful tone; 'wiry and spare' is more neutral or positive.
Opposites
Commonly confused: wiry and spare physique or spare?
wiry and spare physique vs spare
As an adjective, 'spare' can mean 'extra' (a spare tire) or 'thin' (a spare figure). In this phrase it means thin, not extra.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'wiry and spare physique' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly describes a thin, muscular body. The others contradict the meaning of 'wiry and spare', which implies leanness and strength, not overweight or softness.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wiry and spare physique”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.