hardly a

• Expressão usada para enfatizar que algo não é verdade, não corresponde à realidade ou é improvável; frequentemente usada para expressar dúvida ou contradição de forma educada ou contida.

A phrase used to emphasize that something is not true, not the case, or very unlikely; often used to express doubt or contradiction in a polite or understated way.

1. Almost no or very fewB1formal

   Used to emphasize that something is almost not true or exists in very small quantity.

   Quase nenhum

   • There is hardly a cloud in the sky today.
   • Hardly a person in the room understood the joke.
   • She had hardly a penny to her name.

2. Not really or not exactlyB2informal

   Used to suggest that something is not the case or is an exaggeration.

   Dificilmente

   • That's hardly a reason to quit your job.
   • He is hardly a professional musician, but he plays well.
   • This is hardly a new problem; we've seen it before.