In varying measures
Hedging expression to soften claims
Littéralement: In different amounts
Use it to describe a situation influenced by multiple factors without specifying the exact proportions.
En 15 secondes
- A sophisticated way to describe a mix of different things.
- Used to soften claims and avoid being too absolute.
- Perfect for professional feedback or describing complex feelings.
Signification
This phrase means that several different factors or qualities are present in a situation, but they aren't all equal. It's a clever way to say 'a mix of things' without being too specific about how much of each thing there is.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Reviewing a new restaurant
The evening was chaotic and delicious in varying measures.
The evening was a mix of chaos and great food.
Giving feedback to a colleague
Your report was insightful and provocative, in varying measures.
Your report was both smart and a bit controversial.
Describing a breakup to a friend
I feel relieved and heartbroken in varying measures right now.
I'm feeling both happy it's over and sad about it.
Contexte culturel
This expression reflects the Western value of 'nuance' in professional and intellectual discourse. It became a staple of 20th-century journalism and essay writing as a way to provide balanced critiques without appearing biased.
The 'Sandwich' Trick
Use this phrase to sandwich a negative trait between two positive ones. It makes your criticism sound much more professional and less like an attack.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this in every sentence, you will sound like you are avoiding making a real decision. Use it once per conversation for maximum impact.
En 15 secondes
- A sophisticated way to describe a mix of different things.
- Used to soften claims and avoid being too absolute.
- Perfect for professional feedback or describing complex feelings.
What It Means
Think of this phrase like a recipe where you don't use a scale. You might add salt, pepper, and garlic. You have all three, but you have more garlic than salt. When you say something happens in varying measures, you are saying that a few different things are true at the same time. It helps you avoid saying something is 100% one way or 100% another. It is the ultimate 'it's complicated' phrase for adults.
How To Use It
You usually place this at the end of a sentence or right after a list of adjectives. For example, if a movie was scary, funny, and sad, you could say it was all those things in varying measures. It acts like a blanket that covers all your points. It’s a very smooth way to transition between different ideas. You can also use it to describe people's reactions. If half the office is happy and the other half is confused, they are feeling those emotions in varying measures.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to sound thoughtful and balanced. It’s perfect for performance reviews at work or when discussing a complex topic like politics or art. It’s great for those moments when a simple 'yes' or 'no' feels like a lie. If your friend asks if you liked their experimental cooking, you might say it was 'bold and surprising, in varying measures.' It sounds much nicer than saying it was just weird.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for simple, factual things. If you are ordering a pizza, don't say you want pepperoni and olives in varying measures. The waiter will just be confused and you'll probably get way too many olives. Avoid it in high-energy, casual settings like a sports game or a loud party. It’s a bit too 'intellectual' for a dive bar. If you use it while shouting over music, you might sound a bit pretentious.
Cultural Background
English speakers, especially in the UK and US, love 'hedging.' This is the cultural habit of not wanting to sound too aggressive or certain. We use phrases like this to leave ourselves an 'exit door' in a conversation. It comes from a long tradition of academic and legal writing where being 100% certain is considered risky. It shows you have a nuanced mind and can see multiple sides of a story.
Common Variations
You might also hear in equal measure, which means the two things are 50/50. Another one is to varying degrees. They are almost the same, but measures feels a bit more poetic and sophisticated. If you want to be very casual, you would just say a bit of both or it's a mix. But if you want to impress your boss or a date at a gallery, stick with in varying measures.
Notes d'usage
This is a C1-level expression that fits best in formal writing, journalism, and professional speech. It is a 'hedging' device used to avoid oversimplification.
The 'Sandwich' Trick
Use this phrase to sandwich a negative trait between two positive ones. It makes your criticism sound much more professional and less like an attack.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this in every sentence, you will sound like you are avoiding making a real decision. Use it once per conversation for maximum impact.
British vs American
British speakers use this slightly more often in daily speech to remain polite. Americans tend to save it for writing or formal presentations.
Exemples
6The evening was chaotic and delicious in varying measures.
The evening was a mix of chaos and great food.
Uses contrast to show the complexity of the experience.
Your report was insightful and provocative, in varying measures.
Your report was both smart and a bit controversial.
Softens the word 'provocative' by pairing it with 'insightful'.
I feel relieved and heartbroken in varying measures right now.
I'm feeling both happy it's over and sad about it.
Shows that human emotions are rarely just one thing.
That gym session was pain and glory, in varying measures lol.
That workout was hard but I feel good about it.
Adds a touch of drama to a mundane activity.
My cat is a genius and a complete idiot, in varying measures.
My cat is sometimes smart and sometimes very dumb.
Creates a funny contrast using the formal structure.
The new law has been met with hope and skepticism in varying measures.
People are both hopeful and doubtful about the law.
Standard journalistic use to show a divided public opinion.
Teste-toi
Choose the best phrase to complete the sentence for a balanced tone.
The road trip was exhausting and exhilarating, ___.
This phrase correctly balances the two opposing adjectives 'exhausting' and 'exhilarating'.
Which word fits the phrase structure?
The project succeeded due to luck and hard work in varying ___.
The standard idiom uses 'measures' to refer to the proportions of contributing factors.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of 'In Varying Measures'
A mix of things
It's a bit of both.
To some extent
It's both good and bad to some degree.
In varying measures
The results were positive and negative in varying measures.
When to use 'In Varying Measures'
Art Gallery
The painting is dark and hopeful in varying measures.
Office Meeting
The strategy is risky and rewarding in varying measures.
Coffee with Friend
I'm excited and nervous about the date in varying measures.
Book Review
The plot was fast-paced and confusing in varying measures.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it specifically means the amounts are *not* necessarily equal. If it were 50/50, you would say in equal measure.
It's rare. You wouldn't say a cake has 'flour and sugar in varying measures.' It's almost always used for abstract concepts like feelings or qualities.
Yes! It makes you sound very articulate. For example: 'I find the role challenging and exciting in varying measures.'
To some extent usually refers to one thing. In varying measures is used when you are listing two or more different things.
It's possible, but sounds very literary. For example: 'In varying measures, the team felt both joy and exhaustion.' It's more common at the end.
Yes, they are interchangeable. Varying degrees is slightly more common in scientific or technical contexts.
In a very casual setting (like a bar), it might sound a bit fancy. In a professional or academic setting, it sounds perfectly normal.
It is always plural: measures. Using the singular measure would change the meaning to a specific action taken.
Absolutely. You can list three, four, or five things and end with in varying measures.
Forgetting the 's' at the end of measures or using the wrong preposition. Always use in, not with or by.
Expressions liées
To varying degrees
Similar to 'in varying measures', used to show things exist at different levels.
In equal measure
When two things are present in the exact same amount.
A mixed bag
An informal way to say something has both good and bad qualities.
To some extent
Used to say that something is partly true but not completely.
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