scarcely

Related to scarcely: scarily

(one) can scarcely believe (one's) eyes

One is unable to believe or accept what is happening right in front of one. She could scarcely believe her eyes when all of her extended relatives surprised her by coming to our wedding. This place is so dirty, I can scarcely believe my eyes!
See also: believe, can, eye, scarcely

hardly ever

Nearly never; very infrequently; only on a few or rare occasions. We used to go visit Grandma and Grandpa every year when I was a kid, but nowadays I hardly ever see them. I hardly ever get the chance to go out to the movies alone since having kids.
See also: ever, hardly

hardly have time to breathe

To be extremely busy. We're trying to finish up that big report, so I hardly have time to breathe these days.
See also: breathe, hardly, have, time

scarcely ever

Nearly never; very infrequently; only on a few or rare occasions. We used to go visit Grandma and Grandpa every year when I was a kid, but nowadays, I scarcely ever see them. I scarcely ever get the chance to go out to the movies alone since having kids.
See also: ever, scarcely

scarcely have time to breathe

To be extremely busy. We're trying to finish up that big report, so I scarcely have time to breathe these days.
See also: breathe, have, scarcely, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

exchange no more than

some number of words with someone and not exchange more than some number of words with someone; hardly exchange more than some number of words with someone; scarcely exchange more than some number of words with someone to say hardly anything to someone. (Always negative.) I know Tom was there, but I am sure that I didn't exchange more than three words with him before he left. We hardly exchanged more than two words the whole evening. Sally and Liz didn't have enough time to exchange more than five words.
See also: exchange, more, no

hardly have time to breathe

 and scarcely have time to breathe
Fig. to be very busy. This was such a busy day. I hardly had time to breathe. They made him work so hard that he scarcely had time to breathe.
See also: breathe, hardly, have, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hardly ever

Also, rarely ever, scarcely ever. Very seldom, almost never, as in This kind of thief is hardly ever caught, or He rarely ever brings up his wartime experiences. The ever in these expressions, first recorded in 1694, serves as an intensifier.
See also: ever, hardly
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • (one) can scarcely believe (one's) eyes
  • hardly
  • (one) can hardly believe (one's) eyes
  • (one) can't believe (one's) ears
  • not believe ears
  • believe (one's) ears
  • believe ears
  • believe one's ears
  • give (one) to believe
  • give somebody to believe/understand...
References in classic literature
One night (the first missile then could scarcely have been 10,000,000 miles away) I went for a walk with my wife.
War Of The Worlds
But no; with scarcely a pause Lizzie took the leap, stumbled among the rough clods and fell.
Black Beauty
Had their party been perfectly agreeable, the delay would have been nothing; but General Tilney, though so charming a man, seemed always a check upon his children's spirits, and scarcely anything was said but by himself; the observation of which, with his discontent at whatever the inn afforded, and his angry impatience at the waiters, made Catherine grow every moment more in awe of him, and appeared to lengthen the two hours into four.
Northanger Abbey
About herself, Sonia wrote that she had succeeded in making some acquaintances in the town, that she did sewing, and, as there was scarcely a dressmaker in the town, she was looked upon as an indispensable person in many houses.
This article she was continually reading, she even read it aloud, almost took it to bed with her, but scarcely asked where Rodya was, though the subject was obviously avoided by the others, which might have been enough to awaken her suspicions.
To the intense annoyance of those who maintained this opinion, the criminal scarcely attempted to defend himself.
Crime And Punishment
In fact, religious beliefs are scarcely more private than actions are, for every religious belief is a source of potential action.
Religious belief is not private
I bet he could scarcely believe what a pushover Scotland was.
Scotland was made to look like a patsy; Best-selling author GEORGE MONBIOT has won acclaim for his campaigning journalism on environmental issues. Here, the founder of The Land Is Ours campaign - which wants the right of access to the countryside - reveals his shock after watching You've Been Trumped and claims politicians sold out Scotland to Donald Trump
WASHINGTON: With scarcely any sleep, in sweltering heat and after losing their kit, Portsmouth ended a farcical North American pre-season tour on Saturday with a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Major League Soccer s DC United.
Portsmouth end nightmare tour with drubbing in Washington
This "Oates"--this quasi-public self--is scarcely visible to me, as a mirror reflection, seen up close, is scarcely visible to the viewer.
Public property
'It seems to me,' the cave bear said 'He's such a puny thing He has poor teeth, no claws or horn He doesn't have a sting' The mammoth nodded, he agreed: 'He reaches scarcely to my knees.' 'No, no, you're wrong', the serpent cried ('twas he who'd brought the charge) 'He's not like us, he's dangerous Much better that he died He sharpens sticks And often in the night I seem him staring at the sky Those silly points in light'.
How It Happened; Poet's corner
Though we scarcely need reminding, Tuesday's concert was an example of the strength the CBSO can boast in its section principals.
CBSO playing to their strengths; review
The historicity of the positive testimony from hard core adversaries and enemies can scarcely be doubted.
"Marie Antoinette"
Today's hyper-extended giraffes can scarcely manage the "filigree steps" that were the hallmark of such terre-a-terre dancers as Fanny Elssler.
Eye of the beholder