немногочисленный(Liv Bliss); мало(Our only problem is finding staff, because good programmers are really thin on the ground. • At this time of year, holidaymakers are thin on the ground.); практически редкость(Magazines about home improvement were very thin on the ground at the time – not like now. • Traditional bookshops are thin on the ground these days. • We are living in an era when good news is thin on the ground. • By the mid-1970s, managers and executives in the late 30s to late 40s age group were thin on the ground.4uzhoj)
днем с огнём не сыщешь(4uzhoj); раз, два и обчёлся(Based on our local area, one skill which is in very high demand is British Sign Language – there is new legislation coming in for local authorities to provide this for interpretation, and qualified folk are thin on the ground.Anglophile); кот наплакал(Magazines about home improvement were very thin on the ground at the time – not like now.Anglophile); с гулькин нос(VLZ_58)
плохо(с чем-либо; в знач. "чего-либо мало" • Hard evidence is thin on the ground, and what there is, is not encouraging.4uzhoj); туго(часто иронично • C грамотными инженерами нынче туго.4uzhoj); не густо(Useful suggestions have been thin on the ground lately.Alexander Demidov)