much less

== English == === Conjunction === much less (idiomatic) Let alone; to say nothing of. 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter xxi: Of the thing that sustains him through trials man has no inkling, much less knowledge, at the time. 1895. M.K. Gandhi, Petition to Natal Legislative Assembly It is hopeless for him to return to India and expect to earn bread, much less to make a fortune. ==== Usage notes ==== The idiomatic construction follows this form: "not [a small thing], much less [a bigger thing]" – "She was so poor that she had not a single coin, much less the large amount demanded." "not [to do a small thing], much less [to do a bigger thing]." – "He has broken his ankle. He can not even walk, much less run and jump". ==== Synonyms ==== let alone not to mention ==== Translations ==== === References === “much (or still) less”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.