Cool MateLittle vs That's not a lot
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Little
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's not a lot
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Little
| Little | That's not a lot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlɪtl/","/ˈlɪtlə(r)/","/ˈlɪtlɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlɪtl/","/ˈlɪtlər/","/ˈlɪtlɪst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts nɒt ə lɒt//🇺🇸 //ðæts nɑt ə lɑt// |
| Meaning | small in size or amount | It means there isn't much of something. |
| Example | She has a little dog that loves to play. | With only ten dollars left, I thought, 'That's not a lot.' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | little help, little house, little brother, little time, little bit | That's not a lot of money, That's not a lot of time, That's not a lot to work with |
| Antonyms | big, large, huge | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'littler' as a comparative, instead of 'smaller', Confusing with 'few' when referring to countable items, Omitting 'a' before 'little' in a sentence like 'I have little money.' | Used unnecessarily when discussing non-quantifiable items., Confused with 'That's quite a lot' which has the opposite meaning., Forgetting to emphasize the context when used sarcastically. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe size, age, or quantity. Can be affectionate when referring to people (e.g., 'little brother'). Avoid using in formal contexts where more precise terms are needed. | Used in everyday conversation to express that a quantity is small. Suitable in casual and formal contexts but may be considered abrupt in very formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Little vs That's not a lot
What's the difference between Little and That's not a lot?
Little: small in size or amount That's not a lot: It means there isn't much of something.
Which is more common: Little and That's not a lot?
Little is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Little: She has a little dog that loves to play. That's not a lot: With only ten dollars left, I thought, 'That's not a lot.'
Can I use Little and That's not a lot interchangeably?
Not always. Little and That's not a lot are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.