can't hardly

can't hardly
Omit the not in the contraction so as to avoid a double negative. Prefer can hardly to can't hardly (and can't scarcely). See also double negative.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • Can't Hardly Wait — For the song by The Replacements, see Pleased to Meet Me. Can t Hardly Wait Theatrical release poster Directed by Deborah Kaplan …   Wikipedia

  • Can't Hardly Wait — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Ich kann’s kaum erwarten! Originaltitel: Can t Hardly Wait Produktionsland: USA Erscheinungsjahr: 1998 Länge: 96 Minuten Originalsprache: Englisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • can't hardly —    This expression is a nonstandard double negative (hardly is considered negative), so avoid it. It is better to say can hardly: I can hardly hear you over the noise of the party! …   Confused words

  • hardly — hard|ly W2S2 [ˈha:dli US ˈha:rdli] adv 1.) almost not ▪ My parents divorced when I was six, and I hardly knew my father. ▪ The children were so excited they could hardly speak. ▪ I can hardly believe it. ▪ Hardly anyone (=almost no one) writes to …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hardly — hard, hardly 1. The normal adverb from hard is hard, as in They are working hard and Don t hit it so hard. Hardly has a special use, meaning ‘scarcely’ (as in We hardly know them) and ‘only with difficulty’ (as in She could hardly speak). 2.… …   Modern English usage

  • hardly — adverb Date: before 12th century 1. with force ; vigorously 2. in a severe manner ; harshly 3. with difficulty ; painfully 4. a. used to emphasize a minimal amount < I hardly knew her > < almost new hardly …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hardly — adverb 1 almost not: I hadn t seen him for years but he had hardly changed at all. | can/could hardly do sth: The children were so excited they could hardly speak. | I can hardly believe it. | hardly anyone/anything (=almost no one or almost… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • hardly — /hahrd lee/, adv. 1. only just; almost not; barely: We had hardly reached the lake when it started raining. hardly any; hardly ever. 2. not at all; scarcely: That report is hardly surprising. 3. with little likelihood: He will hardly come now. 4 …   Universalium

  • hardly — /ˈhadli / (say hahdlee) adverb 1. barely; almost not at all: hardly any; hardly ever; hardly had he started when the command came to stop. 2. not quite: that is hardly true. 3. with little likelihood: he will hardly come now. 4. with trouble or… …  

  • hardly — hard•ly [[t]ˈhɑrd li[/t]] adv. 1) only just; almost not; barely: hardly any; hardly ever[/ex] 2) not at all; scarcely: That report is hardly surprising[/ex] 3) with little likelihood: He will hardly come now[/ex] 4) Brit. harshly or severely 5)… …   From formal English to slang

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