0 Threadbare material or clothes have become thin or damaged because they have been used a lot. -- （織物或衣服）磨光露底的，穿舊的
a threadbare coat 磨破的外套
1 A threadbare excuse, argument, or idea is not strong and no longer persuades people because it is old or has been used too much. -- （藉口、論點或想法）陳舊的，老一套的
a threadbare excuse 老掉牙的藉口
The environment of our society, relative to others of its kind, looks threadbare.
First, they are rather threadbare in terms of control variables.
She is nearly featureless, beyond perfunctory indications of gender, and the threadbare metaphor of her wheel.
Our vision, our belief, our metaphysic is wearing woefully thin, and the art is wearing absolutely threadbare.
With more than two decades of the sociological analysis of science behind us it cannot come as a surprise that legends are becoming threadbare.
The likelier prospect is a more threadbare safety net, obliging public clients and the uninsured to travel farther, wait longer, and (perhaps) get less attentive care.
Our parliamentary delegation was then prevented from travelling to the crisis region for a variety of completely threadbare reasons.
I thought that the coat looked a little threadbare, but it might just about last out to the next election.
