a colossal blunder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a colossal blunder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake or error, often with a sense of gravity or seriousness. Example: "The decision to ignore the warning signs was a colossal blunder that cost the company millions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

This was a colossal blunder.

The New York Times - Books

But signing him would have been a colossal blunder.

The New York Times - Sports

At the time, Mr. Manilow referred to the cancellation as a "colossal blunder".

The New York Times

As Mr. Sahay warns, "it would be a colossal blunder if we let it slip".

The New York Times

That was a colossal blunder for which the planet has been paying ever since.

The New York Times

He made a colossal blunder in 1997 by merging his company, then called HFS, with CUC International to create Cendant.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

But while Village Vic jumped impeccably throughout and won, Little Jon made one colossal blunder with a circuit to race and never recovered, trailing home with the also-rans.

Independent

The romantic cords and intimate strings are no longer in sight but I have seen her a couple times since the colossal blunder.

Huffington Post

"The truth is, we may never know the true origin of the attack unless the attacker made some colossal blunder," said Joe Stewart, a director in the Counter Threat Unit at SecureWorks, a computer security consulting organization.

The New York Times - Tech

Switching banking supervision from the Bank of England to the FSA was a colossal early blunder by Gordon Brown for which we are paying an enormous price.

The Guardian - Opinion

One, the nearly completed $2.4 billion Revel Casino, is a first step in a promised Atlantic City revitalization that began with a colossal financial blunder by the casino's original investor, Morgan Stanley.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a colossal blunder" to emphasize the significant negative impact of a mistake or decision. It's effective in formal writing and when highlighting serious consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a colossal blunder" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly dramatic or pretentious. Simpler terms like "big mistake" or "major error" are usually more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a colossal blunder" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a mistake of great magnitude and significance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a colossal blunder" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a significant mistake with serious consequences. Ludwig AI validates its usage. It's prevalent in news and media, as well as encyclopedic and scientific sources. While effective in formal contexts, simpler alternatives might be more suitable for casual conversation. Related phrases include "a huge mistake", "a massive error", and "a grave error", each with slight differences in emphasis. When using "a colossal blunder", ensure it aligns with the seriousness of the error you are describing to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a huge mistake

Replaces "colossal" with "huge", changing the degree of the error.

a massive error

Substitutes "colossal" with "massive", altering the intensity of the mistake.

a grave error

Replaces "colossal blunder" with "grave error", suggesting a serious and significant mistake.

a monumental mistake

Uses "monumental" instead of "colossal", emphasizing the large scale and impact of the mistake.

a disastrous mistake

Replaces "blunder" with a more emotive term, implying very negative consequences.

a terrible error

Emphasizes the negative aspect of the blunder but with less formality.

a major miscalculation

Focuses on the faulty reasoning or planning that led to the mistake.

a significant oversight

Highlights the failure to notice or consider something important.

a critical failure

Highlights the importance of the failure and its potential consequences.

an egregious mistake

This denotes a mistake that is conspicuously bad or offensive.

FAQs

How can I use "a colossal blunder" in a sentence?

You can use "a colossal blunder" to describe a significant mistake. For example: "Ignoring the expert's advice proved to be "a colossal blunder"."

What can I say instead of "a colossal blunder"?

You can use alternatives like "a huge mistake", "a massive error", or "a grave error" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a colossal blunder" or "a huge success"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "A colossal blunder" describes a significant mistake, while "a huge success" describes a significant achievement.

What's the difference between "a colossal blunder" and "a simple mistake"?

"A colossal blunder" implies a mistake with major consequences, while "a simple mistake" refers to a minor, insignificant error.