dreadful lot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful lot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a large quantity or number of something, often with a negative connotation. Example: "There are a dreadful lot of issues we need to address before the project can move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In "A Hole With Two Ends," the entrepreneurs Sandra and Neil, interviewing a dreadful lot of Highlanders to staff their pottery business, viciously dismiss the "whole countryside full of perpetual losers stranded in decrepit cottages that stank of cigarette smoke... and booze".

The New York Times - Books

Hermione does not care a dreadful lot about her appearance, so remember that it's your personality that counts - no matter what you wear or how you look.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But she's well aware, having mentored many people through the process, that "a lot of these reunions end in a dreadful mess".

Independent

What dreadful luck.

The Guardian - Sport

But when it comes to love stories, I generally like lots of suffering and near-impossible courtship under dreadful, constrained circumstances: "Anna Karenina, Jane Eyre, Daniel DerondaondAnna Karenina, Jane Eyre, Daniel Deronda

The New York Times

For a while, there was a lot of dreadful progressive music out there.

The Guardian - Music

She did, however snootily you care to turn your nose up at this fact, "touch" (oh, what a dreadful phrase) an awful lot of people.

The Guardian - Film

Britons are unusually fond of flying, it is true: among EU citizens, their propensity to jet abroad for holidays is beaten only by the Irish (inhabitants, like the British, of a wealthy island with a lot of dreadful weather).But the rest of Europe is catching up: 1,000 new "city pairs" were added to European airline schedules between 2003 and 2007.

The Economist

Ms. Fleiss looks dreadful, she spouts a lot of self-absorbed drivel ("I'm not a religious person, but I do feel that I carry a soul of someone who was exterminated in a concentration camp") and, we're told in the closing credits, she was paid for participating in the film.

The New York Times - Arts

The show tells the story of a group of hair-metal rockers striving simultaneously to enjoy themselves, find love and save their favourite LA bar from being bulldozed – a flimsy bit of rigging, by common consent, on which to hang a lot of jolly, dreadful (and jolly dreadful) 1980s anthems.

The Guardian

I've had lots of dreadful reviews, but being called podgy made me pretty miserable.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreadful lot" to express a large quantity or number of something, often with a negative connotation or sense of disapproval.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful lot" in formal or professional writing where a more neutral or objective term like "significant number" or "considerable amount" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful lot" functions as a quantifier with a negative connotation. It's used to describe a significant number or amount of something that is considered unpleasant or undesirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is indeed usable in written English and carries this specific nuance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dreadful lot" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a large quantity of something perceived negatively. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, although its occurrence is relatively rare. It finds primary application in news and media, and less frequently in more formal contexts. While "dreadful lot" effectively conveys disapproval, remember that alternatives like "terrible amount" or "awful lot" might be more suitable for professional writing. When writing "dreadful lot", ensure you're aiming to express more than just a large quantity, but also negative sentiments toward it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible amount

Focuses on the quantity being large and unpleasant, similar to "dreadful lot".

awful lot

Similar in meaning, but "awful" is slightly less severe than "dreadful".

considerable number

Highlights the size of the group, with an implication of concern or disapproval.

significant quantity

Emphasizes the substantial amount, often in a formal or objective context.

large quantity

A more neutral way of expressing a considerable amount.

substantial amount

Similar to "large quantity" but may imply importance or impact.

great deal

Implies a large quantity or extent, but not necessarily negative.

serious amount

Highlights the importance of the quantity.

large number

Neutral way of expressing the quantity.

excessive amount

Highlights an amount that is more than necessary, wanted, or desirable.

FAQs

How to use "dreadful lot" in a sentence?

You can use "dreadful lot" to describe a large quantity or number of something you find unpleasant or undesirable. For example, "There are a "dreadful lot" of problems that need to be addressed."

What can I say instead of "dreadful lot"?

You can use alternatives like "terrible amount", "awful lot", or "considerable number" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dreadful lot" or "dreadfully lot"?

"Dreadful lot" is the correct phrase. "Dreadfully" is an adverb and doesn't fit in this construction where "dreadful" acts as an adjective modifying "lot".

What's the difference between "dreadful lot" and "large quantity"?

"Dreadful lot" carries a negative connotation, implying the large quantity is undesirable. "Large quantity" is more neutral and simply refers to a significant amount.