less bigger??

[bridge78]

Can you say 'less bigger'? It sounds odd to me.

 

[Rover_KE]

No.

 

[HanibalII]

Can you say 'less bigger'? It sounds odd to me.

If you were saying something was smaller than the original size, you would just say 'smaller'.

 

[5jj]

If you were saying something was smaller than the original size, you would just say 'smaller'.

It's possible, though not always very natural, to say less big.

 

[HanibalII]

It's possible, though not always very natural, to say less big.

Which is why you would say smaller. I've never heard 'less big' used to describe the diminishing size of an object, or an object that is not the same size of another item.

And in fact the meaning of 'less big' would be 'smaller'.

 

[Raymott]

Can you say 'less bigger'? It sounds odd to me.

It makes sense in the right context, but I wouldn't advise using it.
"Jack is bigger than me. He's three inches taller. Peter is also bigger then me, but only by two inches, so he's less bigger [than me] than Jack is."
But, you're right. It sounds odd, and not everyone would be able to cope with it.

 

[5jj]

And in fact the meaning of 'less big' would be 'smaller'.

Not necessarily exactly.

If A is less expensive than B, there is some implication, however slight, that B is in some way expensive.
If Be is cheaper than A, there is some suggestion, howerver slight, that A is in some way cheap.

A similar contrast exists between smaller' and 'less big'. Some people call for 'less big goverment' others would like to see 'less big business'.

 

[HanibalII]

Not necessarily exactly.

If A is less expensive than B, there is some implication, however slight, that B is in some way expensive.
If Be is cheaper than A, there is some suggestion, howerver slight, that A is in some way cheap.

A similar contrast exists between smaller' and 'less big'. Some people call for 'less big goverment' others would like to see 'less big business'.

Would you be able to direct me to a source that uses 'less big' in context? I've been searching google (probably not the best place) since this thread was created and have not been able to find any.

 

[5jj]

There are 12 citations in COCA.

 

[HanibalII]

There are 12 citations in COCA.

Cheers. That's a great resource. Never heard of it before, until now.

On the note of less big however, I would recommend replacing 'less big' with smaller, as it does sound much more natural. Only reason I would use 'less big' would be to place emphasis. And even then, it could be difficult.

 

[Raymott]

Sally is a big girl. Jane is less big, but she's still too big to ride this bicycle.

 

[5jj]

On the note of less big however, I would recommend replacing 'less big' with smaller, as it does sound much more natural. .

'Smaller' is generally more appropriate, and is certainly far more common. However, in a couple of the COCA citation, 'smaller' not be more natural.

 

[Tdol]

There are 12 citations, so it's uncommon, but would you recommend that a poet, for instance, didn't use it? The odd and the unusual can sound great in the right hands. I would recommend smaller to most learners, but I wouldn't always do it.