less than

1. Not at all or hardly at all. For example, He had a less than favorable view of the matter, or She had a less than adequate grasp of the subject. This expression uses less in the sense of “a smaller quantity, number, or extent than is implied,” a usage dating from about a.d. 1000. The same sense appears in less than no time, a hyperbolic term for a very short time (as in Don't worry, he'll be here in less than no time) that dates from about 1800.

Example Sentences

He then fired four shots at Ms Smith from close range during the incident, which lasted less than two minutes, the inquest heard.

From BBC

However, based on the data available, fire pollution appears to have influenced the ocean’s chemistry far less than this year’s upwelling effect did.

From Los Angeles Times

The latest backlash comes less than a month after Ms Townsend got into a heated confrontation with her Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko in which the latter said she had "no class" and "no education".

From BBC

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year-old Mississippi native Rashawn Lee less than half an hour later at the shopping center.

From Los Angeles Times

Youth unemployment has been a major driver of protests in this young country where the median average age is less than 16.

From BBC