Cool MateSerious vs That does not come lightly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Serious
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That does not come lightly
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Serious
| Serious | That does not come lightly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɪəriəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɪriəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt dʌz nɒt kʌm ˈlaɪtli//🇺🇸 //ðæt dʌz nɑt kʌm ˈlaɪtli// |
| Meaning | Not joking; important | that is not easy to accept or understand |
| Example | He has a serious expression on his face. | This decision is one that does not come lightly, considering the consequences. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, for, nothing serious, serious enough to warrant something, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, about | decision that does not come lightly, consequences that do not come lightly |
| Antonyms | funny, light-hearted, playful | That comes easily, That is effortless, That happens frequently |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'seriously' as an adverb instead of an adjective., Using 'serious' in a casual context where 'funny' is more appropriate., Mispronouncing it, leading to misunderstanding. | Using it in a trivial context., Confusing it with 'that comes easy'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'serious' to describe someone who is focused or an important situation. Avoid using it in lighthearted contexts. | This phrase is often used when discussing decisions or consequences that are significant and not made without deep consideration. It can express empathy or seriousness, so avoid using it in casual or light-hearted contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Serious vs That does not come lightly
What's the difference between Serious and That does not come lightly?
Serious: Not joking; important That does not come lightly: that is not easy to accept or understand
Which is more common: Serious and That does not come lightly?
Serious is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Serious: He has a serious expression on his face. That does not come lightly: This decision is one that does not come lightly, considering the consequences.
Can I use Serious and That does not come lightly interchangeably?
Not always. Serious and That does not come lightly 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.