a big octopus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big octopus" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the size of an octopus, often in a context related to marine life or a specific story or scenario involving an octopus. Example: "During our dive, we encountered a big octopus hiding among the rocks, its tentacles gracefully moving in the water."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Perhaps a big octopus.

Independent

The creature's only predator is the octopus, but only a big octopus could win a fight with a blue crab's deadly pincers, Barberá believes.

The Guardian

I felt as though there was a big octopus with tentacles that were grabbing the plane and dragging us down into New York.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The company is announcing today the launch of its first Android@Home product, the Nexus Q. Shaped like a big black octopus, the wireless music and video streaming box looks like a direct competitor to Sonos, and will let users connect all their mobile phones and tablets to the device using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

TechCrunch

This big octopus appears".

The New Yorker

Male octopuses have a big problem: female octopuses.

BBC

"That's a big [expletive] octopus," he scribbled on his underwater slate.

The New York Times - Magazine

Oh yeah, and another, bigger octopus might come eat your legs off.

Science Magazine

I went about two months ago: a lovely salad of puntarelle; a fine dish of faintly buttery ravioli studded with poppy seeds; the lively, crunchy, salty presence of toasted capers over orecchiette in an octopus ragu; a big red wine from La Stoppa, an interesting producer in Emilia-Romagna that restaurants less wine-struck than Centovini might not be aware of, reach out to and put on their lists.

The New York Times

While the researchers are not formally presenting their findings until next year after gathering more data, other top experts in the field who know of their results say these small octopuses are a big deal.

The New York Times - Science

A big disappointment was unpleasantly soft, bland octopus scattered with extremely salty olives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an octopus, consider the specific details of its size and features, such as tentacle length or mantle volume, to enhance the reader's understanding.

Common error

Avoid using overly vague descriptors like "big" without providing context or specific measurements. Instead, use more precise terms such as "massive" or "enormous" to convey a more accurate impression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big octopus" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines the indefinite article "a", the adjective "big", and the noun "octopus" to specify and describe an octopus of considerable size. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big octopus" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to describe an octopus of notable size. Although Ludwig's AI indicates it's correct and usable, its frequency is relatively low, primarily appearing in News & Media contexts. For more formal settings, alternatives like "large octopus" or "giant octopus" might be preferred. When using the phrase, consider providing more specific details to enhance the description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a very large octopus

Adds emphasis to the size of the octopus.

large octopus

Replaces "big" with a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

giant octopus

Uses "giant" for emphasis on size, implying a very large octopus.

huge octopus

Substitutes "big" with "huge", highlighting the immense size.

massive octopus

Emphasizes the octopus's size by using the word "massive".

enormous octopus

Uses "enormous" to describe the octopus, indicating a very significant size.

an octopus of considerable size

A more formal way of expressing the large size of an octopus.

a sizable octopus

Replaces "big" with "sizable", a more neutral term for large.

a large cephalopod

Uses a broader term, "cephalopod", instead of specifically mentioning "octopus".

an octopus of significant proportions

A more descriptive and formal way to convey the octopus's large size.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "a big octopus"?

Alternatives include "large octopus", "giant octopus", or "huge octopus", all emphasizing the size of the octopus.

How can I use "a big octopus" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a specific octopus, such as: "The diver encountered a big octopus hiding in the coral reef." or "That's a big [expletive] octopus," he scribbled on his underwater slate.

Is it more appropriate to say "a large octopus" or "a big octopus"?

"Large octopus" is generally considered more formal, while "a big octopus" is more casual. Both are grammatically correct.

What is the difference between "a big octopus" and "a giant octopus"?

"A giant octopus" implies a particularly large size, even larger than what "a big octopus" suggests. The word choice depends on the context.