rather

be a bit steep

1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's a bit steep, don't you think?
2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's a bit steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working.
See also: bit, steep

be rather steep

1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's rather steep, don't you think?
2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's rather steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working!
See also: rather, steep

had rather (do something)

Would prefer to do something; would be more inclined or willing to do something. A less common variant of "would rather (do something)." I had rather not talk to you right now. I had rather go see a movie, to be honest, but we can go dancing if you like.
See also: rather

have (one's) rathers

To have one's choice or preference; to have things the way one would like them to be; to have one's way. Usually formulated as "if I had my rathers." Similar to the more common phrase "have one's druthers." I tell you, if I had my rathers, I'd spend the rest of my life living in Paris. If the president had his rathers, we'd be paying taxes for the privilege of breathing!
See also: have, rather

I'd rather face a firing squad than (do something)

I really do not want to (do something). A firing squad is a group of people assigned to execute someone by gunfire. The phrase hyperbolically implies that the speaker would rather face a gruesome death than do what is being discussed. I'd rather face a firing squad than do another presentation for the board. Last time, they found an error in my report and screamed at me for it.
See also: face, firing, rather, squad

rather (someone) than me

expression I'm glad that I don't have to experience what someone else has to do or go through. A: "My boss is making me come in this weekend to do an inventory of the entire store. It's going to take forever!" B: "Wow, rather you than me. I'm going to a baseball game this weekend!" My sister Janet has to work every day over the Christmas break—rather her than me.
See also: rather

rather than

Instead of; as opposed to; as an alternative to. Sometimes the preferred action is written between "rather" and "than." Rather than spending so much of our budget on advertising, I think we should invest a bit more in QA testing. When I go to the movies, I usually prefer candy rather than popcorn, but I'm in the mood for something salty tonight. He'd rather struggle and fail on his own than ask for help.
See also: rather

rather you than me

expression I'm glad that I don't have to experience what you just mentioned having to do or go through. A: "My boss is making me come in this weekend to do an inventory of the entire store. It's going to take forever!" B: "Wow, rather you than me. I'm going to a baseball game this weekend!"
See also: rather

sooner rather than later

As soon or quickly as possible; closer to now than a later time or date. I'd rather we have the meeting sooner rather than later so we can finalize the project details. Can we fill out that application tonight? I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later.
See also: later, rather, sooner

would rather

Would prefer (to do something); would be more inclined or willing (to do something). I would rather go see a movie, to be honest, but we can go dancing if you like. She said she would rather not talk to you right now.
See also: rather
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

had rather do something

 and had sooner do something
prefer to do something. (The had is usually expressed as the contraction, 'd.) I'd rather go to town than sit here all evening. They'd rather not.
See also: rather

have one's rathers

 and have one's druthers (More informal with druthers.)
to have what one prefers; to have one's way. If I had my rathers, we'd go out every Friday night. I suspect that if Joe had his druthers, he'd be taking Mary to the dance instead of Jill.
See also: have, rather

I'd rather face a firing squad than do something

Fig. I would prefer to stand and be executed by gunfire than to do something. I'd rather face a firing squad than go shopping the day after Christmas.
See also: face, firing, rather, squad

would rather

would more willingly; would more readily. I would rather have an apple than a pear. I don't like pears. I'd rather live in the north than the south, because I like snow.
See also: rather
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

had rather

Also, had sooner. Would prefer. For example, I had rather you let me do the driving, or He'd sooner switch than fight. This idiom today is often replaced by would rather. [Late 1500s] Also see just as soon.
See also: rather

would rather

Prefer to, as in We would rather eat dinner before the movie. [Mid-1500s]
See also: rather
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

rather than

instead of somebody/something: I think I’ll have a cold drink rather than coffee. Why didn’t you ask for help, rather than trying to do it on your own?
See also: rather

rather you, etc. than ˈme

(also sooner you, etc. than ˈme) (especially British English) used for saying that you are pleased that you do not have to do a difficult or unpleasant thing: ‘She works every weekend.’ ‘Rather her than me.’
See also: rather

would rather... (than)

would prefer to: She’d rather die than give a speech. ‘Do you want to come with us?’ ‘No, I’d rather not.’ Would you rather walk or go by car? ‘Do you mind if I smoke?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’

ˌsooner rather than ˈlater

after a short time rather than after a long time: We urged them to sort out the problem sooner rather than later.
See also: later, rather, sooner

be a bit/rather ˈsteep

(informal) (of a price or a request) be too much; be unreasonable: €6? That seems a bit steep for a small piece of cheese. It’s a bit steep to expect us to work longer hours for no extra money.
See also: bit, rather, steep
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be a bit steep
  • be a bit/rather steep
  • be rather steep
  • a little (bit) steep
  • little steep
  • steep
  • it's/that's a bit steep
  • pricey
  • a little (bit) pricey
  • be/go/keep on at somebody
References in classic literature
She was rather burdened with bunches of herbs and two onions in a bag.
Original Peter Rabbit Books
The woman was young and rather stout, with fine large eyes and a certain grave beauty; my memory of her expression is exceedingly vivid, but in dreams one does not observe the details of faces.
I had probably slept only a few minutes, but my commonplace dream had somehow so strongly impressed me that I was no longer drowsy; and after a little while I rose, pushed the embers of my fire together, and lighting my pipe proceeded in a rather ludicrously methodical way to meditate upon my vision.
Can Such Things Be
`A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' He told me to tell you he'd be quite willing to wait till you got through college, if you insisted, though he'd RATHER get married this spring before the planting begins.
He likes Nettie Blewett pretty well, too, and mother would rather he married her than any one.
Anne of The Island
Deane went on speaking; he was conscious of something he had in his mind to say, which might not be agreeable to his uncle, simply because it was a new suggestion rather than an acceptance of the proposition he foresaw.
He's rather fond of carrying everything over other people's heads."
The Mill on the Floss
"Rather a pleasant year on the whole!" said Meg, smiling at the fire, and congratulating herself on having treated Mr.
"Rather a rough road for you to travel, my little pilgrims, especially the latter part of it.
Little Women
"What in the name of conscience did he do it for?" he speculated at last, rather to himself than to her.
"But isn't it our affair, perhaps, to make them get married?" Katharine asked rather wearily.
Night and Day
"But won't they think us rather a handful?" Nibs asked in the middle of his jump.
The Adventures of Peter Pan
There is a stamp of unity, of individual genius upon it, which inclines me to the former hypothesis, though I am not blind to the consideration that this unity may rather have arisen from that consensus of many minds which was a condition of primitive thought, foreign to our modern consciousness.
Adam Bede
Most men rather admire the nobs for having a good time, but I think we surrender too much when we admit that aristocracy has made even the aristocrats happy.
The Wisdom Of Father Brown
"Of a rather amateurish sort, I fear," answered the strange fisherman.
The Man Who Knew Too Much