clamouring for pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clamouring for pay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where individuals are demanding or expressing a strong desire for payment, often in a context of dissatisfaction or urgency. Example: "The workers were clamouring for pay after months of delayed salaries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Inflationary expectations are rising and workers clamouring for pay increases.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

On the other hand, if we accepted that we, too, will one day become old, we would be clamouring for generous pay and good conditions for those who might have to help look after us.

The Guardian

Short of much else useful to say about the crisis, David Cameron's Tories are clamouring for cuts - starting with the pay of nurses, teachers, firefighters and other public sector workers who, as we are now led to believe, have been living the life of Riley while the corporate world has scrimped its way through the New Labour years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now villagers are clamouring for more filters – and are willing to pay for them.

Unicef

In another, they are clamouring for an end to the "marriage tax penalty"—the fact that many couples pay more taxes if they marry than if they remain single.

The Economist

The problem Squirrel is attacking is the sheer volume of new stuff that's clamouring for our attention online, drowning out the good stuff we genuinely want to pay attention to.

TechCrunch

Wossy's wife flogs Israeli film remake to Miramax Jonathan Ross's oft-mentioned pay packet from the BBC, whatever it may be, hardly leaves his clan clamouring for gruel at the workhouse.

Independent

With the potential for reducing their pay-out costs for biopsies by 80%, health insurers are going to be clamouring for its adoption.

The Economist

They are now clamouring for more "transparency".

The Economist

Insurers are clamouring for funds too.

The Economist

BRAZILIANS seemed to be clamouring for change.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clamouring for pay" when you want to convey a sense of urgency or desperation in the demand for payment, often suggesting that those seeking payment feel they are owed it or are in a difficult situation.

Common error

Avoid using "clamouring for pay" in neutral or positive contexts. The phrase implies a somewhat chaotic or desperate demand, so it is not appropriate when simply stating that someone is requesting their salary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clamouring for pay" functions as a verb phrase, with "clamouring" acting as a present participle modifying an implied subject (e.g., workers, employees) and "for pay" indicating the object of their demands. Ludwig AI examples highlight this usage in contexts involving worker demands.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "clamouring for pay" is a grammatically correct, though relatively rare, expression used to describe a strong and urgent demand for payment. Ludwig AI indicates that it often appears in news and media contexts, conveying a sense of urgency or desperation. While acceptable in professional settings, more formal alternatives like "requesting remuneration" may be more appropriate in certain situations. Remember to consider the connotation of urgency and potential disorder when using this phrase, and avoid it in neutral or positive contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demanding payment

This is a more direct and neutral way of saying that someone is asking for payment.

requesting remuneration

This is a more formal and polite way of asking for payment.

insisting on compensation

This suggests a stronger stance, implying that compensation is deserved and being firmly requested.

seeking financial reimbursement

This phrase is used when someone is asking for money back for expenses they have incurred.

pushing for wage increases

This alternative specifically refers to efforts to increase salary or hourly pay.

agitating for higher salaries

This implies a more active and potentially disruptive effort to get better pay.

fighting for fair wages

This suggests a struggle for what is perceived as a just level of compensation.

lobbying for better benefits

This focuses on advocating for improved employee benefits, which are related to pay.

appealing for salary adjustments

This suggests a formal request for changes to one's salary.

pressing for improved earnings

This indicates a persistent effort to achieve higher income levels.

FAQs

How can I use "clamouring for pay" in a sentence?

You can use "clamouring for pay" to describe a situation where people are urgently demanding their wages, often due to delays or unfair treatment. For example, "The workers were "clamouring for pay" after the company failed to meet the payroll for the third month in a row."

What are some alternatives to "clamouring for pay"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "demanding payment", "requesting remuneration", or "insisting on compensation".

Is "clamouring for pay" formal or informal?

"Clamouring for pay" is generally considered informal. It's more suitable for news reports or descriptive writing than for formal business correspondence. A more formal alternative would be "requesting remuneration".

What does "clamouring for pay" imply?

"Clamouring for pay" suggests that the demand for wages is loud, insistent, and perhaps even desperate. It implies a sense of urgency and potential disorder in the pursuit of payment.