a trolley of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trolley of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a trolley that is carrying or holding something, often in a context related to transportation or storage. Example: "She pushed a trolley of groceries through the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

There's a trolley of tempting desserts that catches all eyes.

The New York Times

If you need a carrot to tempt you to work, there's a trolley of healthy snacks.

The Guardian

Someone wheeled in a trolley of individual pizzas — guacamole dreams deferred — and the inmates closed in.

The New Yorker

One employee of an apartment building pushed a trolley of sandbags across the road to try to reinforce the defences.

The Guardian

On Saturdays, recalled subeditor Barbara Gunnell, "a trolley of champagne and sandwiches would be wheeled into the editor's office".

The Guardian

After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor was brought, and he ran an intravenous drip into his arm from a trolley of supplies abandoned in the yard.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In a shot of a trolley full of passengers from his book "The Americans," the camera looks straight on to the trolley's side.

The New York Times - Arts

If you have ever visited one of its huge warehouse stores, you may have gone in thinking you were only buying a few items, to find yourself coming out of the store with a trolley full of things.

BBC

She displayed a shopping trolley of a typical American housewife's purchases.

The Guardian - Business

Just behind us a hitherto unnoticed service lift opened and a delivery man with a trolley full of soft drinks pallets came face-to-face with one of the most famous football managers in the world.

Independent

The physical framework required by an nutrition assistant is a desk (2 × 1/2) m, a dinner trolley of the same size, an oven, cupboard space for groceries and space for cooling and freezing.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trolley of" when you want to emphasize the mode of transport (a trolley) while describing a collection of items. This is particularly fitting in settings like hospitals, hotels, or supermarkets where trolleys are commonly used.

Common error

Avoid using "trolley" when you actually mean "trawler", a type of fishing boat. The words sound similar but have vastly different meanings. "A trolley of fish" would refer to fish on a wheeled cart, not fish caught by a fishing boat.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trolley of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a determiner followed by a prepositional phrase. It describes a specific quantity or collection of items contained on or within a trolley. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a trolley of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing a quantity of items being transported on a trolley. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the presence and function of the trolley are relevant to the description. Alternative phrases like "a cart of" or "a load of" may be suitable depending on the specific context and emphasis you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cart of

Replaces "trolley" with "cart", a synonym that implies a similar function of carrying goods.

a load of

Replaces "trolley" with "load", focusing on the quantity being carried, rather than the means of transportation.

a collection of

Emphasizes the grouping of items, suitable when the specific mode of transport is less important.

a batch of

Suitable when referring to items produced or processed together.

a supply of

Highlights the provision or availability of something, often for a specific purpose.

an assortment of

Indicates a variety of items, suitable for diverse collections.

a number of

A more general phrase indicating quantity without specifying the mode of transport or grouping.

a quantity of

Focuses on the amount or measure of items, regardless of how they are carried.

a selection of

Implies a curated or chosen group of items.

a shipment of

Appropriate when referring to goods being transported, particularly for commercial purposes.

FAQs

How can I use "a trolley of" in a sentence?

You can use "a trolley of" to describe a collection of items being transported on a trolley. For example, "The nurse wheeled "a trolley of medicine" down the hallway".

What's a similar phrase to "a trolley of"?

Similar phrases include "a cart of", "a load of", or "a selection of", depending on the context and what you want to emphasize.

Is "a trolley of" formal or informal?

"A trolley of" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality often depends more on the items being described rather than the phrase itself.

When is it appropriate to use "a trolley of"?

It is appropriate to use "a trolley of" when you want to specifically mention that the items are being transported or displayed on a trolley. This works well in scenarios where the trolley itself is a relevant part of the image or process.