a mountain of garbage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mountain of garbage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount of waste or refuse, often in a figurative sense to emphasize the overwhelming quantity. Example: "After the festival, the park was left with a mountain of garbage that took days to clean up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

She looked down the street to see a "mountain of garbage" moving down the street at her.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, population pressure pushed desperate peasants into cultivating ever more marginal land or seeking a livelihood in any way possible--such as homesteading on a mountain of garbage.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Where there was once an open sewer outlet bordering a mountain of garbage there's now a stunning teak boardwalk, ample terrace seating and gray basalt walkways.

The New York Times - Travel

But the cans they come in create a mountain of garbage that the United States Tennis Association is working hard to recycle during the United States Open.

The New York Times - Sports

I spent 4 years pulling a jewel out of a mountain of garbage teaching myself everything about building in the process and becoming a crafstman.

University of California, Berkeley

Steady rain hampered the search today for at least 155 people believed buried by a mountain of garbage that collapsed on squatters' shacks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The dump was burning hot, a mountain of steaming garbage, littered with needles, broken glass, fly-blown animal carcasses.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Kids lived in a literal mountain of garbage.

Harvard University

Humans and animals live together in this terrible dream city; they forage together on a vast mountain of garbage at the city's edge and they seek warmth and sustenance together wherever they can find it.

The Guardian - Books

What I recall most vividly is the spectacle of some men carrying out other men, so pale and emaciated that they could no longer walk; the stench that came from a giant mountain of garbage in the prison yard; and the clusters of human shit encrusted on the barbed-wire cell windows.

The New Yorker

Shivaji Nagar is also home to Mumbai's largest dumping ground -- a literal mountain of garbage.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a mountain of garbage", consider the impact of the imagery. It evokes a strong sense of overwhelming waste and can be particularly effective when highlighting environmental concerns or societal issues.

Common error

While "a mountain of garbage" is vivid, it can be too informal for certain professional or academic writing. In such cases, consider alternatives like "a significant accumulation of waste" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mountain of garbage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object. Ludwig shows it describes a large accumulation of waste, both literally and figuratively. It can modify other nouns or function as an appositive providing additional information.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a mountain of garbage" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase that describes a substantial accumulation of waste, often evoking strong imagery. Ludwig AI highlights that it is most frequently used in news and media contexts, with some presence in academic writing. While effective for emphasizing scale and negative impacts, consider its relative informality and potential overuse, opting for alternatives like "a significant accumulation of waste" in more formal settings. The expert rating reflects the phrase's grammatical soundness, source authority, and general consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enormous pile of trash

Uses "enormous pile" instead of "mountain" and "trash" instead of "garbage" which creates a slightly less formal feel.

a huge heap of refuse

Substitutes "mountain" with "heap" and "garbage" with "refuse" offering a more formal tone.

a massive mound of rubbish

Replaces "mountain" with "massive mound" and "garbage" with "rubbish", offering a variation in vocabulary.

a vast accumulation of waste

Replaces "mountain" with "vast accumulation" and "garbage" with "waste", emphasizing the quantity and the general nature of the discarded material.

a towering collection of discarded items

Substitutes "mountain" with "towering collection" and replaces "garbage" with a descriptive phrase.

a substantial buildup of debris

Uses "substantial buildup" and "debris" to describe the accumulation, which could include more than just garbage.

a significant quantity of litter

Focuses on the amount of "litter", reducing the imagery of a mountain, and suits more literal contexts.

an overwhelming surplus of refuse

Highlights the overabundance with "overwhelming surplus" replacing the visual of a mountain.

an extensive collection of unwanted materials

Offers a more descriptive and less direct way of referring to garbage.

a prodigious amount of discarded material

Uses "prodigious amount" to emphasize quantity and replaces "garbage" with a more formal description.

FAQs

How can I use "a mountain of garbage" in a sentence?

You can use "a mountain of garbage" to describe a large amount of waste literally, as in, "The landfill resembled "a mountain of garbage"", or figuratively, as in, "The project generated "a mountain of garbage" in terms of paperwork".

What's a less informal way to say "a mountain of garbage"?

For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "a significant accumulation of waste", "a substantial amount of refuse", or "an extensive collection of discarded materials".

Which is correct, "a mountain of garbage" or "mountains of garbage"?

Both are correct, but they convey different meanings. "A mountain of garbage" refers to a single, large accumulation. "Mountains of garbage" refers to multiple large accumulations.

What can I say instead of "a mountain of garbage"?

You can use alternatives like "a huge heap of refuse", "a vast accumulation of waste", or "an enormous pile of trash depending on the context.