The phrase "hardly all" is commonly misspelled as "hardley all" due to the silent "d" in the word "hardly." The correct pronunciation of this phrase is /ˈhɑːdli ɔːl/ according to the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first syllable is pronounced with the "hard" sound of the letter "H," followed by a short "a" sound. The second syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound, and the final syllable has a long "o" sound. Remember, it's "hardly all," not "hardley all!"
The phrase "hardly all" is an idiomatic expression used to convey an idea or situation where hardly any or very few people or things are included or involved. It is an emphatic way of stating that a group or a portion is almost non-existent or extremely small. This phrase is commonly used to emphasize the limited nature or scarcity of something.
Essentially, "hardly all" implies that only a negligible or minimal amount of a particular group or collection is being referred to. It indicates that the majority or most of the subject matter is not included in the statement. For example, when someone says "hardly all of the students passed the exam," they are implying that only a small fraction or a few students passed, while the majority did not.
The term also suggests a sense of surprise or disappointment, as it often highlights a contradiction or expectation that has been subverted. It denotes a discrepancy between what is anticipated or assumed and what is actually observed or found. By using "hardly all," speakers aim to stress the smallness or insignificance of a specific subset in relation to the broader context.
In conclusion, "hardly all" is an idiomatic expression indicating a very small proportion or almost non-existent presence of a group. It emphasizes the scarcity or limited quantity of something and underscores a discrepancy between what is expected and what actually exists.
The phrase "hardly all" is not a commonly used term in English. However, it appears to be a combination of two words: "hardly" and "all".
The term "hardly" is derived from the Old English word "heardlic" which means "with difficulty" or "not easily". It comes from the root word "heard" which means "strong" or "difficult". Over time, "heardlic" evolved into "hardly" with a similar meaning.
The word "all" can be traced back to Old English as well. It is derived from the word "eall" which means "every" or "the whole". It has remained relatively unchanged in its meaning throughout history.
So, when "hardly" and "all" are combined in the phrase "hardly all", it suggests that something is almost never complete or entirely present.