much less

much less
much more, much less, still more, still less
The principles, much more the practice, need a good deal of scrutiny. I didn't even see him, still less talk to him. Much more (or still more) is used when the grammatical form of the sentence is positive, and much less (or still less) when it is negative. Uncertainty arises when the form is positive but the sense is negative, as with adjectives in un- and words like difficult. In the sentence It is difficult to establish all the facts, much less to reach a conclusion, much more is strictly needed, not much less, but the result is awkward and an alternative such as let alone is often preferred.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • much less — {conj.} And also not; and even less able or likely to. Used after a negative clause. * /I never even spoke to the man, much less insulted him./ * /John couldn t even pick up the box, much less carry it upstairs./ * /George can hardly understand… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • much less — {conj.} And also not; and even less able or likely to. Used after a negative clause. * /I never even spoke to the man, much less insulted him./ * /John couldn t even pick up the box, much less carry it upstairs./ * /George can hardly understand… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • much less — conjunction Date: 1615 not to mention used especially in negative contexts to add to one item another denoting something less likely < can hardly grow, much less ripen, till the stock is in the earth Jonathan Swift > < he is never going to get… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Much — Much, adv. [Cf. Icel. mj[ o]k. See {Much}, a.] To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly. Much suffering heroes. Pope. [1913 Webster] Thou art much mightier than we. Gen. xxvi. 16. [1913 Webster] Excellent speech becometh not… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • less — See: MORE OR LESS, MUCH LESS …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • less — See: MORE OR LESS, MUCH LESS …   Dictionary of American idioms

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