a lump of bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lump of bread" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a single, large piece of bread, for example, a whole loaf or a bun. For example, you could write: I spread a generous helping of butter onto a lump of bread and enjoyed my sandwich.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It looked awful, "like a lump of bread," Mr. Silvestri recalled.

The New York Times - Arts

A lump of bread that can be cut in half and filled with food in order to create a sort of tasty bulky sandwich.

Independent

I have eaten fried chicken though, particularly in that hen heaven Berlin, where your deep-fried clucker comes with potato salad and a lump of bread that looks like a sun-damaged elbow, or atop a steering-wheel sized pile of rice and chickpeas with pickles served out of a goldfish bowl.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A young woman in a pink dress squats to kindle a fire from wooden sticks and plastic bottles, then breaks a lump of dough into pieces to bake into chapatti bread.

The Guardian

A lump of sugar tossed into a coffee to go.

The New York Times

Alternatively, use a lump of sugar.

WikiHow

The battles between Protestant and Roman Catholic are alluded to in these three selections, but the characters seem to experience it all from a distance, or as part of a past that sits in the midst of their day-to-day experience like a lump of dry bread in the throat, impossible to digest or ignore.

The New York Times - Books

An appetizer to skip is the clams oreganata, a mushy lump of bread crumbs studded with chewy bits of clam.

The New York Times

Where I'm from, we always used to first foot: a tall dark stranger (ie your dad) would "arrive" (ie be shoved out) at the door at the stroke of midnight, bearing a lump of coal and a hunk of bread.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The union is sealed when their triumphant image is reproduced on a biscuit tin, and by Roley's gift of foal's bread – a lump of tissue found in the mouth of some new-born horses and believed to deliver good fortune.

The Guardian - Books

The lake is where you will find the Chateau Lake Louise, which, depending upon your opinion, is the best thing since sliced bread or a lump of human intervention dropped into paradise.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lump of bread" when you want to emphasize the irregular shape or undefined quantity of bread, rather than a precisely cut or measured piece.

Common error

Avoid using "a lump of bread" when referring to a standard portion like a slice or a specific quantity like a loaf. The phrase implies an unmeasured, somewhat shapeless mass.

Linguistic Context

"A lump of bread" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a non-specific, often irregularly shaped portion of bread, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples referring to various culinary and cultural contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lump of bread" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an irregularly shaped portion of bread. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, particularly in news and lifestyle articles, and it is used in reference to food. When using this phrase, consider the emphasis on the undefined quantity and rustic imagery it conveys. For more formal contexts, a phrase like "a piece of bread" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a piece of bread

Refers to a smaller, often sliced, portion of bread.

a loaf of bread

Indicates a whole, baked unit of bread.

a hunk of bread

Suggests a roughly cut, substantial piece of bread.

a slice of bread

Specifically refers to a thin, cut portion of bread.

a morsel of bread

Implies a very small, often deliberately chosen, amount of bread.

a wad of bread

Suggests a mass of bread that is clumped together.

a portion of bread

Denotes a serving or allocated amount of bread.

a roll of bread

Specifies a small, individual loaf often round in shape.

a knob of bread

Refers to a small, rounded mass of bread.

a slab of bread

Suggests a thick, flat piece of bread.

FAQs

How can I use "a lump of bread" in a sentence?

You can use "a lump of bread" to describe an irregularly shaped portion of bread, such as: "He tore off "a lump of bread" and dipped it in the stew."

What's the difference between "a lump of bread" and "a loaf of bread"?

"A loaf of bread" refers to the entire, baked form, while "a lump of bread" suggests a piece, often irregular in shape, taken from a larger loaf or batch.

When is it appropriate to use "a lump of bread" instead of "a piece of bread"?

Use "a lump of bread" when the shape and size are not uniform or defined, emphasizing its rough, unrefined form. Use "a piece of bread" when you are describing a slice.

What can I say instead of "a lump of bread"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a chunk of bread", "a hunk of bread", or simply "some bread".