Precious few Meaning in English
expression
ˈpɹɛʃəs/ /ˈfju
PREH-shuhs FYOO
pɹˈɛʃəs/ /fjˈuː
pr-EH-shuhs fy-OO
Definition
Used to emphasize that there are very few of something, usually less than you would like or expect.
Usage & Nuances
'Precious few' is slightly formal and adds emotional emphasis, showing disappointment or concern. Use with countable nouns only, e.g., 'precious few chances,' not 'precious few water.' Often highlights something valuable because of its scarcity.
Spanish: muy pocosPortuguese (BR): pouquíssimosPortuguese (PT): pouquíssimosChinese (Simplified): 极少数Chinese (Traditional): 極少數Hindi: बहुत ही कमArabic: قلة قليلةBengali: অত্যন্ত অল্প - খুব সামান্যRussian: совсем немного - очень немногиеJapanese: ごくわずか - 本当に少ししかないVietnamese: rất ít - hiếm hoiKorean: 아주 적은 - 극히 소수의Turkish: çok az - neredeyse hiçUrdu: انتہائی کم - بہت ہی تھوڑےIndonesian: sangat sedikit - amat sedikit
Example Sentences
Precious few students passed the test.
basic
There were precious few tickets left for the concert.
basic
He has precious few friends in this city.
basic
We have precious few options left, so we need to decide quickly.
natural
After hours of searching, we found precious few clues.
natural
There are precious few moments like this in life, so enjoy it.
natural