a couple sacks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple sacks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a small number of bags or containers, typically in informal contexts. Example: "I need to buy a couple sacks of potatoes for the dinner party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We had a couple turnovers and a couple sacks," Mangini said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We go down the line and ask different companies if we could have a couple sacks of potatoes and oranges," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If someone picks up a couple of sacks of crawfish, a Delhomme reunion is launched.

The New York Times - Sports

Near Northampton I slip off the motorway and collect a couple of sacks of McFood.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their quarterback is so big that we could have had a couple more sacks, but he got away.

The New York Times - Sports

"I knew that years from now I wouldn't really care about maybe missing out on a couple of sacks," Hoffman said.

The New York Times - Sports

If they produce a couple of surplus sacks, they sell them for a few shillings, which they spend on such luxuries as second-hand flip-flops.Five years ago, annual health spending in Tanzania was about $8 a head.

The Economist

The Irish Rugby Football Union made Kiss available to Ulster in July after previous coach Anscombe was sacked a couple of weeks after the surprise departure of previous director of rugby David Humphreys.

BBC

Throughout 730 and 731 Maslama, with a large army at his disposal, cleared the provinces south of the Caucasus of the Khazars, and then advanced beyond the mountains, sacking a couple of settlements and defeating the khagan in pitched battle.

Wikipedia

It may be money or a couple of goats and a sack of cereal.

The Guardian

In contrast to the ataraxia of Daenerys, Emilia's charming brow is often wrinkled up with amusement, while her dark eyebrows are as mobile as a couple of ferrets in a sack.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a couple sacks," ensure the context clarifies what the sacks contain for better clarity. For example, "a couple sacks of grain".

Common error

Avoid using "a couple sacks" when referring to a large number of sacks; use more appropriate terms like "many sacks" or "several sacks" depending on the quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple sacks" functions as a noun phrase acting as a determiner and noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It specifies a quantity of sacks.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple sacks" is a grammatically correct and generally acceptable phrase used to indicate a small quantity of bags. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts and has a register that ranges from neutral to informal. Remember to consider that 'a couple' refers to two of something. For a greater quantity consider using "'several bags'".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two bags

Replaces "couple" with the numeral "two" and "sacks" with "bags".

a pair of sacks

Uses "pair" instead of "couple", implying a matching set.

a few sacks

Replaces "couple" with "few", indicating a small but indefinite number.

double sacks

Uses "double" to modify "sacks" meaning two sacks.

several sacks

Indicates more than two sacks, an unspecified small quantity.

several bags

A less specific amount greater than two, replacing sacks with bags.

two containers

Substitutes "sacks" with a more generic term, "containers".

a brace of sacks

Uses "brace," another term for "pair," more formal or archaic.

a handful of sacks

Implies a small quantity able to be held by hand.

some sacks

Less specific about the amount then "a couple".

FAQs

What does "a couple sacks" mean?

The phrase "a couple sacks" refers to two sacks, or a small number of bags, usually containing something like grain, potatoes, or other materials.

How can I use "a couple sacks" in a sentence?

You might say, "I need to pick up "a couple sacks" of fertilizer for the garden" or "We used "a couple sacks" of potatoes for the stew."

What can I say instead of "a couple sacks"?

You can use alternatives like "two bags", "a few sacks", or "several bags" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a couple sacks" or "two sacks"?

Both are grammatically correct and interchangeable; however, "two sacks" is more precise. "A couple sacks" is slightly more informal and implies an approximate quantity.