barren plot

USAGE SUMMARY

"barren plot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a piece of land or area that is not producing anything or is not suitable for producing anything. For example, "The farmer found a barren plot of land in the middle of the desert and knew it would be difficult to make anything of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Second, what could they do with a barren plot of land (though with a decent infrastructure) measuring 1,350 square miles?

The Economist

Mr. Ahmad has been a municipal government courier for the last five years, responsible for shuttling bodies between the morgue and his sloped and barren plot of rocky soil on the eastern edge of Kabul.

The New York Times

He motioned to a stray card on the table with the words "Subsidized Farmer" on it; it pictured a corpulent rancher standing on a barren plot of land with a knapsack full of gold coins.

The New York Times

Accompanying most meals at the Cowshed Café is Hallgrimsdottir's homemade rye bread, baked under a barren plot of land a short distance from the tiny village of Mývatn.

BBC

"With binoculars you can see details about the individual trees, the color and shapes of the leaves, the roughness of the bark, the type of tree, but without the binoculars you can now see the density of the trees, and whether there is a barren plot, or a group or dying trees," Phillip said.

Johns Hopkins University

"Floating," one of his recent exhibitions, juxtaposed three versions of Hong Kong's map floating on water--one was a barren plot inhabited by snakes--and helium-filled figures drifting above.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Karen Stead Baigrie, who is one of the garden's general administrators, surveyed the barren plots.

The New York Times

Land distribution, for example, split the land into tiny and barren plots farmed by people who were too poor to invest in modern techniques.At the same time, political dissent grew.

The Economist

The now-barren plots of land will be sold to buyers who can use the space to hunt deer and rabbits, or to grow crops (at their own risk).

The New York Times - Magazine

Thirty out of 39 research plots occurred within existing managed preserves including all oak savanna, mesic prairie and wet prairie plots; while four of eight dry prairie plots and two of seven sand barrens plots occurred within managed preserves.

Environmental Management

Not only is the work barren of plot or narrative drama, but Gaddis also deploys a peculiar, disconcerting prose idiom: sentences that use a jumpy splice technique to recreate the state of mind of a dying man who is dosing himself with the oral steroid prednisone.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barren plot" to vividly describe land incapable of sustaining life or growth, emphasizing its lack of potential.

Common error

Avoid using "barren plot" to describe land that is simply undeveloped or unused but potentially fertile; "barren" implies an inherent inability to produce.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barren plot" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, where "barren" modifies the noun "plot". It serves to characterize a piece of land as unproductive and lifeless. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barren plot" is a grammatically sound and descriptive term used to depict infertile and unproductive land. Ludwig confirms its validity and offers various examples of its usage across different contexts, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase is not overly common, it provides a vivid way to characterize land lacking potential for growth, both literally and metaphorically. When using "barren plot", ensure the context aligns with its inherent implication of infertility and lack of productivity, rather than mere underdevelopment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infertile land

Focuses specifically on the lack of fertility.

unproductive patch

Highlights the lack of yield or output.

desolate ground

Emphasizes the emptiness and lack of life.

arid terrain

Stresses the dryness and lack of moisture.

waste ground

Highlights the lack of use or purpose.

empty lot

Focuses on the absence of buildings or structures.

unused acreage

Implies a larger area that is not being utilized.

bleak landscape

Emphasizes the depressing or discouraging nature of the scene.

unfruitful soil

Highlights the inability of the soil to produce crops.

sterile field

Focuses on the inability to produce life or growth.

FAQs

What does "barren plot" mean?

A "barren plot" refers to a piece of land that is infertile, unproductive, and unable to sustain plant life or growth. It suggests a lack of resources or conditions necessary for cultivation.

What are some synonyms for "barren plot"?

Alternatives to "barren plot" include "infertile land", "unproductive patch", or "desolate ground", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of the land's lack of productivity.

How is a "barren plot" different from undeveloped land?

While undeveloped land may simply be awaiting cultivation or construction, a "barren plot" implies an inherent inability to support life or growth, often due to poor soil quality or harsh environmental conditions.

Can "barren plot" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "barren plot" can be used metaphorically to describe something lacking in creativity, ideas, or potential for development, similar to how land is literally barren.