Learn English – the difference of meaning between “a bigger size” and “a size bigger”

adjective-positionmeaning

I read the two forms.
I learned that the adjective is before the noun but I guess that there are some exceptions.
Is there a difference in meaning?

Best Answer

In "a size bigger", "size" is used as a unit of measurement.

This usage presumes that whatever is being discussed (clothing, drink servings, etc.) comes in a discrete set of possible sizes. Thus, for example, if a café serves coffee in "small", "medium", "large" and "extra-large" cups, then a medium coffee would be "a size bigger" than a small coffee (and a large coffee would be two sizes bigger than a small, and an extra-large would be three sizes bigger than a small).

Compare this with other similar unit-based comparisons, like "He's an inch taller than her" or "This road is a mile longer than the other one" or "This ladder is two steps taller than that one."

On the other hand, "a bigger size" simply refers to any size that is bigger than the one it's compared to. So, in the same café example as above, "medium", "large" and "extra-large" would all be bigger sizes than "small".