thankful

be grateful for small mercies

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be grateful for small mercies. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye. We're just grateful for small mercies that he still has the use of his left one. Yes, the fire damaged a large portion of our house, but it didn't reach our irreplaceable mementos in the den, so we're grateful for small mercies.

See also: for, grateful, mercy, small

be thankful for small blessings

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities that one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small blessings. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye. We're just thankful for small blessings that he still has the use of his left one. Yes, the fire damaged a large portion of our house, but it didn't reach our irreplaceable mementos in the den, so we're thankful for small blessings.

See also: blessing, for, small, thankful

be thankful for small favors

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities that one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small favors. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye. We're just thankful for small favors that he still has the use of his left one. Yes, the fire damaged a large portion of our house, but it didn't reach our irreplaceable mementos in the den, so we're thankful for small favors.

See also: favor, for, small, thankful

be thankful for small mercies

To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages, or opportunities one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating, or unfortunate situation or circumstance. My car's air conditioning stopped working two hours into my cross-country road trip. The radio still works, though, so I guess I should be thankful for small mercies. Our son's accident left him without the use of his right eye; we're just thankful for small mercies that he still has the use of his left one. Yes, the fire damaged a large portion of our house, but it didn't reach our irreplaceable mementos in the den, so we're thankful for small mercies.

See also: for, mercy, small, thankful

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*thankful for small blessings

grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation. (Typically: be ~; become ~.) We have very little money, but we must be thankful for small blessings. At least we have enough food. Bob was badly injured in the accident, but at least he's still alive. Let's be thankful for small blessings.

See also: blessing, for, small, thankful

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

be grateful for small mercies

or

be thankful for small mercies

COMMON If you are grateful for small mercies or are thankful for small mercies in a generally bad situation, you are glad about any aspects of it that are good. He is still receiving some money — the modest sum earmarked for young athletes — and is grateful for small mercies. In these difficult times, one can only be thankful for small mercies — that borrowing costs are relatively low. Note: People sometimes say thank heavens for small mercies or thank God for small mercies to show that they are glad about any good aspects of a generally bad situation. She is now serving a 12-month prison sentence and the baby is with her parents. Thank heavens for small mercies.

See also: for, grateful, mercy, small

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

be thankful (or grateful) for small mercies

be relieved that an unpleasant situation is alleviated by minor advantages.

See also: for, mercy, small, thankful

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be grateful/thankful for small ˈmercies

be happy that a bad situation is not even worse: The thieves took the TV and stereo but didn’t take any jewellery, so let’s be thankful for small mercies.

See also: for, grateful, mercy, small, thankful

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017