finger's breadth

Thân thiện

She placed the two stones exactly a finger's breadth apart on the table.

Definition

Noun A unit of linear measurement approximately equal to the width of an adult human finger, typically considered to be about 3/4 of an inch or 1.9 centimeters. It is an informal, anthropic unit of length.

Usage

The term "finger's breadth" is used to indicate a small, approximate distance, often for descriptive or comparative purposes rather than precise measurement. It is typically used in its singular form.

Examples

• The margin of error was less than a finger's breadth.
• Move the painting just a finger's breadth to the left.
• The two pieces of wood were separated by barely a finger's breadth.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe a very narrow margin or a close distance.
  • He won the race by a finger's breadth.

Variants and Related Words

• Fingerbreadth: A single-word variant with the same meaning.
• Digit: In historical measurement systems, a "digit" was a formal unit equal to a finger's breadth (about 3/4 inch).
• Inch: A standard unit of length; a finger's breadth is roughly 3/4 of an inch.

Synonyms

• Hair's breadth
• Whisker (informal, as in "by a whisker")
• Narrow margin

Notes

"Finger's breadth" is an idiomatic, non-standard unit. For precise measurement, standard units like inches or centimeters should be used.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the length of breadth of a finger used as a linear measure

Từ đồng nghĩa

• finger
• fingerbreadth
• digit