1. little less than是little more than的反义词，表示：言其多（大，强等）的口气，总体属于肯定范畴。no more than和little more than是表达“言其少(小，弱)”的口气的，相反little less than则是表达“言其多(大、强)”的口气的。如：

He is little less capable than his elder brother.

他的能力跟他哥哥(的能力)一样强。

他跟他哥哥一样能干。

他比他哥哥的能力差一点儿。（误）

The holiday was little less than a disaster.

这个假期简直是一场灾难。

His behaviour is little less than disgraceful.

他的举止极为不雅。

It’s little less than robbery!

这简直无异于抢劫!

2.a little less than才是“比……少一点”、“比……差一点”的意思：

He is a little less capable than his elder brother.

他的能力比他哥哥差一点儿。

Ten is a little less than twelve.

十比十二少一点。

The average age of participants was about 37, and the average amount of sleep they got was a little less than seven hours.

这些参与者的平均年龄约为37岁，日均睡眠时长略少于7小时。

A little less than 40 per cent were considering leaving.

略低于40%的受访者正考虑离开。

A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.

一个优秀的领导会多挨一点责难，少占一点赞誉。——阿诺德·格拉索

语言点：take one's share of the blame 意思是：为……承担一份责任，take credit意为：抢功/争夺名利，第二句省略了主语a good leader和谓语take