meager
gb/mˈiɡɚ/ us/mˈiɡɚ/
B2
Inglés
csekély, szűkös, szegényes, sovány
B2
1
Patrón de uso:
a meager [amount/sum/number]; meager [resources/budget/pay]; [something] is meager
They survived on a meager income for years.
Évekig csekély jövedelemből éltek.
The project moved slowly because the team had meager resources.
A projekt lassan haladt, mert a csapatnak szűkös erőforrásai voltak.
After taxes and fees, the refund was meager.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
I get a meager salary.
Alacsony a fizetésem.
We only have a meager amount of time.
Csak nagyon kevés időnk van.
Error frecuente:
Do not confuse with "miser" (a person who hates spending money). Spelling varies: US "meager," UK "meagre."
Significado
too small in amount
Colocaciones
meager salary
|meager pay
|meager wages
|meager budget
|meager resources
|meager funding
|meager profits
|meager allowance
|meager portion
|meager amount
Sinónimos
scant (Emphasizes not much of something available.)
|
paltry (Adds a sense of disappointment or contempt.)
|
modest (Often more neutral and less negative.)
Antónimos
ample (Enough or more than enough in amount.)
|
generous (More than expected or given freely.)
|
plentiful (Existing in large quantities.)
Temas
daily_life
|business
|money
|quantities
Definición
Too small; not enough.
Small in quantity and not enough for what is needed or expected.
C1
2
Patrón de uso:
a meager [meal/explanation/argument/result]; meager [evidence/details]
The report offered only meager details about what went wrong.
A jelentés csak szegényes részleteket tartalmazott arról, mi ment félre.
Their meager evidence wasn’t enough to convince the jury.
A sovány bizonyítékaik nem voltak elegendők ahhoz, hogy meggyőzzék az esküdtszéket.
He gave a meager explanation and changed the subject.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
There is meager evidence for this idea.
Kevés és gyenge bizonyíték szól emellett az elképzelés mellett.
The meal was meager and unsatisfying.
Az étel szegényes volt, és nem is laktatott.
Error frecuente:
This use is about quality or substance (e.g., evidence, results), not just size.
Significado
poor in quality or substance
Colocaciones
meager evidence
|meager results
|meager returns
|meager details
|meager explanation
|meager argument
|meager performance
|meager meal
|meager output
|meager contribution
Sinónimos
thin (Common with evidence/arguments; stresses lack of support.)
|
weak (Highlights lack of strength or persuasiveness.)
|
skimpy (Often suggests something feels insufficiently provided.)
Antónimos
substantial (Large enough to be important; solid in substance.)
|
strong (Persuasive or powerful in effect.)
|
robust (Healthy, strong, and well-developed.)
Temas
communication
|education
|work
Definición
Not very good; not much content or value.
Lacking richness, strength, or substance; weak, thin, or unimpressive.
C1
3
sovány
B1
Patrón de uso:
a meager [man/woman/child]; a meager [figure/frame/body]
The stray dog was meager and covered in dirt.
A kóbor kutya sovány volt, és csupa kosz.
After the long illness, he looked meager and tired.
A hosszú betegség után soványnak és fáradtnak látszott.
The photos showed a meager child in need of medical care.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The cat looked meager.
A macska soványnak tűnt.
He became meager after he was sick.
A betegség után lesoványodott.
Error frecuente:
In this sense, "meager" describes a person’s body, not their personality.
Significado
thin and undernourished
Colocaciones
meager frame
|meager figure
|meager body
|meager face
|meager child
|meager man
|meager horse
|meager appearance
Sinónimos
gaunt (Very thin, often in a worrying or unhealthy way.)
|
scrawny (Informal; thin in a weak-looking way.)
|
emaciated (More extreme; very thin from starvation or illness.)
Antónimos
well-nourished (Healthy-looking because of enough food.)
|
plump (Pleasantly fat or rounded.)
|
sturdy (Strongly built and solid.)
Temas
health
|people
|animals
Definición
Very thin, often because of little food.
Very thin, often suggesting poor health or not having enough food.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
meager
AFI
GB/mˈiɡɚ/
US/mˈiɡɚ/
Sílabas y acento
mea - ger (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (mea)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: meager
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
meager at best
1/mˈiɡɚ ˈæt bˈɛst/
fixed phrase
only slightly good or adequate
Only a little good; maybe not good at all.
Ejemplos
- The benefits are meager at best, and the risks are real.
- His chances of winning were meager at best.
- The evidence is meager at best, so we need more data.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The results are meager at best.
meager fare
1/mˈiɡɚ fˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
simple or poor food/offerings
Simple food or poor choices.
Ejemplos
- The hostel kitchen provided meager fare: bread, soup, and tea.
- During the storm, the town lived on meager fare for a week.
- The channel offers meager fare if you’re looking for documentaries.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The café served meager fare.
meager pickings
1/mˈiɡɚ pˈɪkɪŋz/
fixed phrase
few good choices available
Not many good things to choose from.
Ejemplos
- We arrived late and found meager pickings on the buffet table.
- In winter, the market has meager pickings for fresh berries.
- After dozens of applications, there were still meager pickings in his field.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- There are meager pickings today.