sliding scale
3
4.1
- noun
- /ˈslaɪdɪŋ skeɪl/
:
escala móvil
- This charity uses a sliding scale for fees, allowing individuals to pay what they can afford.
Examples
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Patients with more limited funds paid on a sliding scale, but the majority of patients received care free of charge.
Academic text (1994) -
The rate is on a sliding scale: the more you use, the more you pay per gallon.
Academic text (1998) -
There are all types of facilities that offer help based on a sliding scale based on the ability to pay.
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Good thing this place works on a sliding scale.
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I had to pay into the program on a sliding scale according to our annual family income.
Blog text (17) -
The tax is paid from the seller's proceeds and is calculated based on a sliding scale.
Blog text (27) -
It's priced on a sliding scale between $450 and $950, with scholarships available.
Blog text (12) -
In Canada, co-payments for home care are charged by some provinces on a sliding scale, while others, such as Manitoba, offer these services free of charge.
Academic text (1990) -
Many counseling services offer their fees on a sliding scale based on clients' income levels.
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The gym membership prices vary by income on a sliding scale to make fitness accessible for everyone.
Synonyms
1
8.4
A part of a contract that automatically raises pay or benefits when living costs rise
A part of a contract that lets wages, prices, or benefits rise automatically when the cost of living increases
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
5.4
A system where a government keeps a country's money at a set value, often linked to another currency or gold
How Variable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from composing 'sliding' (moving or shifting) with 'scale' (a range or set of levels): a scale that moves/varies, i.e. rates that change according to another factor. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common compound pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Sliding scale comes from the image of a simple scale with a weight you slide along a bar to change the amount shown. So, a sliding scale means prices or fees that 'vary' 'based on income' or another factor.