enormous waste of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enormous waste of time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an activity or situation that you believe is highly inefficient or unproductive. Example: "After attending the meeting, I realized it was an enormous waste of time, as no decisions were made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It was absolutely unmissable and an enormous waste of time.

The Guardian - Sport

Incidents like this only lend ammunition to TSA critics who say the whole airport security apparatus is an enormous waste of time and money.

The Economist

Re-fighting these debates every few months seems like an enormous waste of time and energy, particularly given that it risks default.

The New Yorker

Once again an inquiry has been made to look like an enormous waste of time and money…" She supposes it was predictable.

The Guardian - Film

She said that the stings amounted to entrapment of consenting adults, and that "it seems like an enormous waste of time resources by authoritarian busybodies".

The New York Times

Besides, the cartoonist says, "delighting a few people on Twitter would be an enormous waste of time if it couldn't be repurposed.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

First, it can be an enormous waste of police time.

The Guardian

When misused, stop and search was "an enormous waste of police time" and "an unacceptable affront to justice", she said.

BBC

The reason for this prohibition is that disputes over grades are an enormous waste of faculty time.

WikiHow

You had to admire their patience but it seemed an enormous waste of everybody's time.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Almost half of the water that passes through its system gets lost on the way — an enormous waste of precious resources, especially in times of drought.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "enormous waste of time", ensure the context clearly explains why the activity or situation is unproductive. Provide specific examples to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "enormous waste of time" as a knee-jerk reaction. Instead, analyze the situation and provide concrete reasons why the time spent was unproductive. Generic complaints weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enormous waste of time" functions as a noun phrase that acts as a subject complement or object. It describes something considered unproductive or inefficient. Ludwig indicates that this is a common expression, often used to express frustration or disapproval.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enormous waste of time" is a noun phrase used to describe activities or situations deemed highly unproductive. It is grammatically correct and Ludwig AI states that the phrase is usable in written English. While frequently appearing in news and media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using the phrase, providing context and justification strengthens its impact. Alternative phrases, such as ""huge waste of time"" or "utter waste of time", offer slight variations in emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

huge waste of time

This alternative uses "huge" instead of "enormous", offering a slightly less formal tone but maintaining the same core meaning.

massive waste of time

This alternative replaces "enormous" with "massive", suggesting a large scale and significant degree of wasted time.

immense waste of time

Using "immense" instead of "enormous" conveys a sense of vastness and a considerable amount of time being wasted.

colossal waste of time

This phrase employs "colossal", implying an exceptionally large and often regrettable waste of time.

sheer waste of time

This emphasizes the pure and unadulterated nature of the time wasted, highlighting the lack of any redeeming value.

utter waste of time

This phrase suggests a complete and total waste of time, leaving no room for doubt about its futility.

complete waste of time

This alternative indicates that the activity was entirely unproductive and without any positive outcome.

undefined

Using "absolute" intensifies the feeling that all of the time has been wasted with absolutely no benefits whatsoever.

total waste of time

This option suggests that the entire duration was unproductive or ineffective.

substantial waste of time

This implies a significant portion of time has been consumed without yielding the intended or expected results.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "enormous waste of time"?

You can use alternatives like "huge waste of time", "massive waste of time", or "complete waste of time" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I effectively use "enormous waste of time" in a sentence?

To effectively use "enormous waste of time", ensure the sentence clearly states what activity or situation you are referring to and, if possible, briefly explain why it was unproductive. For example: "Sitting in that meeting was an enormous waste of time because no decisions were made."

Is "enormous waste of time" too strong of a phrase to use in formal writing?

While "enormous waste of time" is generally acceptable, in highly formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "significant inefficiency" or "unproductive use of time" to maintain a more professional tone. Always consider your audience.

What is the difference between "enormous waste of time" and "waste of energy"?

"Enormous waste of time" specifically refers to time being used unproductively, while "waste of energy" describes expending effort without achieving a valuable result. They are related but not interchangeable; the first focuses on temporal inefficiency, and the second, on wasted effort.