a handful of drinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a handful of drinking" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a small quantity of drinks or drinking activities, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "After a long week, I enjoyed a handful of drinking with friends at the bar."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Out of 25 teams, each made up of a handful of drinking-age adults, less than a third could conjure up the name of one of the biggest Android tablets around.

TechCrunch

One local story recounts how, some months afterwards, a handful of men were drinking disconsolately in a village pub.

The Guardian

Beverages were served, and after seeing off the last stragglers Neville stuck around with a handful of the super-recognizers, drinking wine in plastic cups and chatting.

The New Yorker

News of the previous evening's activities came to light when several British newspapers were e-mailed by fans reporting that a handful of players were out drinking to the early hours of the morning at Rumours Nightclub close to the team hotel.There is no suggestion of improper behaviour by the players but England have clamped down on them for breaching team rules.

The Guardian - Sport

In addition, a handful of patients maintain that drinking more water and a healthy diet are possible treatments for CKD.

BMC Nephrology

Soon a handful of guests arrived and began drinking Greyhounds and playing Scattergories.

The New York Times

With the new powder and a handful of boxes, a person's drinking needs are met without using any power or consumable material.

TechCrunch

And a handful of days sight-seeing, eating, drinking, catching cabs and subways, and otherwise spending money as tourists in New York.

Huffington Post

Dr. Ozner recommends eating a sensible snack — a handful of almonds or an apple — and drinking a glass of water before a holiday party or meal.

The New York Times - Health

Maged Elhenawy, a street vendor outside the Martin Beck Theater on West 45th Street and Eighth Avenue, said a handful of his customers have hesitated before drinking bottled water.

The New York Times

The following evening my friend Carole and I turn up at the cottage next door to find a band setting up in the corner of the kitchen and a handful of neighbours standing around the sink drinking beer.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify the type of alcohol or the context of the drinking, such as "a glass of wine" or "social drinking".

Common error

Avoid using unusual combinations like "a handful of drinking" as it sounds unnatural. Opt for simpler and more widely understood alternatives to ensure your writing is clear and effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a handful of drinking" attempts to quantify the action of drinking, but it does so in an awkward and unidiomatic way. Ludwig AI flags this as incorrect. A more appropriate structure would use adjectives or adverbs to modify "drinking" or quantify the drinks themselves.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a handful of drinking" is considered grammatically incorrect and awkward by Ludwig AI. It lacks real-world examples and clear contextual usage. For better clarity and acceptance, alternatives such as "a few drinks", "light drinking", or "moderate drinking" are recommended. These alternatives more effectively and clearly communicate the intended meaning of consuming a small amount of alcohol.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few drinks

Replaces "handful" with "few" to indicate a small, unspecified number of alcoholic beverages.

some drinks

Uses "some" to suggest an indefinite quantity of alcoholic beverages being consumed.

light drinking

Emphasizes the low intensity or infrequent nature of the drinking.

a spot of drinking

Employs "spot of" to imply a brief or casual drinking session.

a bit of drinking

Substitutes "bit of" to express a small degree of drinking activity.

a touch of drinking

Uses "touch of" to indicate a light or minimal amount of drinking.

casual drinking

Highlights the relaxed and informal nature of the drinking activity.

moderate drinking

Specifies the level of drinking as "moderate", suggesting a balanced approach.

occasional drinks

Suggests that the drinks are consumed only from time to time, not regularly.

social drinking

Focuses on the social aspect of drinking, emphasizing interaction with others.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "a handful of drinking"?

You can use phrases like "a few drinks", "light drinking", or "moderate drinking" depending on the context.

Is "a handful of drinking" grammatically correct?

The phrase "a handful of drinking" is not standard English and can sound awkward. It's better to use more common phrases to describe small amounts of alcohol consumption.

How can I use "a few drinks" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "After a long day at work, I had "a few drinks" with my friends."

What's the difference between "a handful of drinking" and "light drinking"?

"A handful of drinking" is an uncommon and unclear phrase, whereas "light drinking" is a more recognized and accepted way to describe consuming small amounts of alcohol.