1. SIMPLE

plain simple ▪ stark ▪ bare ▪ unequivocal

These words all describe statements, often about something unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary

* plain used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in a way that other people may not like:

EX: The plain fact is that nobody really knows.

* simple [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else:

EX: The simple truth is that we just can’t afford it.

• plain or simple?

When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/​truth is that… Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter): The problem was due to the simple fact that… • The problem was due to the plain fact that… • for the plain reason that… • It’s a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people’s behaviour.

* stark (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious:

EX: The stark truth is that there is not enough money left.

The simple/​plain truth may be something that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is something particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all.

* bare [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra:

EX: She gave me only the bare facts of the case.

* unequivocal (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly:

The reply was an unequivocal ‘no’.

• Patterns

the plain/​simple/​stark/​bare/​unequivocal truth

a(n) plain/​simple/​stark/​bare/​unequivocal fact/​statement

a(n) plain/​simple/​unequivocal answer

2. NARROW OR THIN

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

• Narrow describes something that is a short distance from side to side. Thin describes people, or something that has a short distance through it from one side to the other.
• Thin is also used of things that are not as thick as you expect. Narrow can be used with the meanings ‘only just achieved’ and ‘limited’.