paltry
gb/pˈɔltɹi/ us/pˈɔltɹi/
C1
Inglês
~ 9400
csekély, szánalmas, silány
C1
1
csekély
B2
Padrão de uso:
a paltry [sum/amount/salary/fine]
He worked overtime all month for a paltry bonus of fifty dollars.
Egész hónapban túlórázott egy mindössze ötven dolláros, nevetségesen csekély bónuszért.
The company offered a paltry sum in compensation for the damage to our house.
A cég csak csekély összeget ajánlott fel kártérítésként a házunkban keletkezett károkért.
Teachers are often expected to do extra work for a paltry salary.
They tried to settle the lawsuit with a paltry amount that barely covered our costs.
The fine for illegal dumping was a paltry figure that did nothing to stop the practice.
Exemplos para aprendentes
She was paid a paltry wage for very hard work.
Nagyon kemény munkáért is csak csekély bért kapott.
The workers went on strike because their pay was paltry.
A dolgozók sztrájkba léptek, mert csekély volt a fizetésük.
He sold his car for a paltry sum.
They gave a paltry amount of money to help the poor.
The prize money was paltry, so few people joined the contest.
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "paltry" with "poultry" (farm birds). "Paltry" is about size or value, not animals. Another mistake is using it like: "a paltry of money" (✗). It should be: "a paltry amount of money" or "a paltry sum of money" (✓).
Significado
very small and inadequate amount
Colocações
paltry sum
|paltry amount
|paltry salary
|paltry wage
|paltry fine
|paltry contribution
Sinónimos
meager (Suggests something is very small in amount and barely enough, often for food or money.)
|
insignificant (Focuses more on lack of importance than size, but is close in meaning when talking about amounts.)
Antónimos
substantial (Emphasizes that the amount is large enough to be important or satisfactory, the opposite of paltry in this sense.)
|
generous (Describes an amount that is more than enough and kind, especially in money or help.)
Temas
money
|work
|economy
|core_vocabulary
Definição
Very small in amount or value; too small to be good or fair.
Very small in amount or value, and not enough to be considered satisfactory or reasonable.
C1
2
Padrão de uso:
a paltry [excuse/effort/performance/result]
He offered a paltry excuse for missing the meeting, and no one believed him.
Szánalmas kifogással próbálta megmagyarázni, miért hiányzott a megbeszélésről, és senki sem hitt neki.
The government’s paltry response to the crisis angered the public.
A kormány válságra adott szánalmas reakciója felháborította a közvéleményt.
She made only a paltry effort to apologize after her rude comments.
Critics slammed the plan as a paltry attempt at real reform.
The charity received a paltry level of support from large corporations.
Exemplos para aprendentes
He gave a paltry excuse for being late, and his boss was not happy.
Szánalmas kifogást hozott fel a késésére, és a főnöke nem volt elégedett.
The students made a paltry effort to clean the classroom.
A diákok szánalmas erőfeszítést tettek a tanterem kitakarítására.
Many people were angry about the paltry response to the problem.
It was a paltry attempt to fix a very big issue.
The team’s paltry performance disappointed their fans.
Erro comum:
Learners may think "paltry" just means "small" and forget the negative judgment. In this sense it also means the effort or excuse is shamefully weak or bad. Saying "a small excuse" is odd; use "a paltry excuse" when you mean the excuse is not only small but also not acceptable.
Significado
contemptibly weak or worthless
Colocações
paltry excuse
|paltry effort
|paltry performance
|paltry record
|paltry response
|paltry offering
Sinónimos
pitiful (Suggests something is so weak or poor that it makes you feel sorry or annoyed.)
|
contemptible (More formal; stresses that something is so bad or low that it deserves strong dislike or disrespect.)
Antónimos
impressive (Describes something strong or good enough to make people admire it, opposite to a paltry effort or result.)
|
commendable (Describes an action or effort that deserves praise, the opposite of one that is paltry and blameworthy.)
Temas
evaluation
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definição
Very bad or weak in quality or effort, so small or poor that it makes people feel angry or have no respect.
Extremely poor or weak in quality, effort, or importance, so that it seems almost worthless and deserves criticism.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
paltry
IPA
GB/pˈɔltɹi/
US/pˈɔltɹi/
Sílabas e acento
paltry (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (paltry)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: paltry
Família de palavras
Advanced or less common
paltriness
noun
paltrily
adverb
Expressões
a paltry effort
1/ə pˈɔltɹi ˈɛfɚt/
fixed phrase
very weak attempt or effort
A very small and weak attempt to do something, not enough to reach the goal or show real care.
Exemplos
- Cleaning just one corner of the room was a paltry effort to help.
- The company made only a paltry effort to reduce its pollution.
a paltry excuse
1/ə pˈɔltɹi ɪkskjˈus/
fixed phrase
very weak or bad excuse
A very weak and bad reason for something, which people do not accept or respect.
Exemplos
- He gave a paltry excuse for not finishing the report, and his manager was not impressed.
- That is a paltry excuse for such serious behavior.
a paltry sum
1/ə pˈɔltɹi sˈʌm/
fixed phrase
very small amount of money
A very small amount of money that is not enough or not fair in the situation.
Exemplos
- They offered me a paltry sum for my old laptop, so I decided to keep it.
- The workers risked their health for a paltry sum each day.