flurries

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'flurries' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a light snowfall or a flurry of activity or emotions. Example 1: The weather forecast predicts flurries of snow throughout the weekend. Example 2: As the children ran through the playground, there was a flurry of laughter and excitement. Example 3: The new product release caused a flurry of interest and pre-orders from customers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are blinded by flurries of paper and at times forget the guiding principles of the mission of higher education.

The Guardian

Nottinghamshire and Bingley, near Bradford, were hit by flurries of up to 7cm.

The Guardian - Business

These flurries of contentiousness did not make up for a shortfall in competitiveness that would be aggravated further by the loss of the Hibs left-back, Pa Kujabi, who was shown a second yellow card in the second half.

The Guardian - Sport

The autumn was well advanced as I headed south into Patagonia, through near-uninhabited landscapes of lakes, forests and glaciers; the first flurries of snow had begun to fall as I reached the point when the Andes is shattered into a labyrinth of fjords and islands.

The Guardian - Travel

You can tell it is bitterly cold on the far reaches of the Roman empire by the intermittent snow flurries and by the ailing Marcus Aurelius's parting words to his loyal general: "Now embrace me as my son and bring an old man another blanket".

The Economist

Cairo, Moscow, and the headquarters of the UN in New York have all witnessed flurries of diplomacy.Step by step or all at once?The diplomacy has produced little so far.

The Economist

In guides' commentaries and schoolboy-friendly action films (featuring artificial snow flurries and seats that throb with cannon fire) Mount Vernon rams home the message that America's revolutionary commander-in-chief and first president had a genius for well-timed exits.

The Economist

To Dr Schwartz the diagnosis is straightforward: "the NRA is demonising mental illness to distract from the obvious, in-your-face relationship between the availability of guns and murder rates".Opponents of gun controls may respond with familiar flurries of statistics.

The Economist

Google's flu-tracking scheme can detect early signs of influenza outbreaks by mining search data for flurries of flu-related search terms in a particular region.The web could be mined to track information about emerging trends and behaviours, covering everything from drug use or racial tension to interest in films or new products.

The Economist

He remembers flurries of "notes" from network executives which squeezed the original ideas out of his scripts.

The Economist

The only flurries of interest come when laws are forced on the politicians through ballot initiatives raised by frustrated interest groups.The absence of political tension has also limited outside interest in the state.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flurries" to describe light and brief snowfalls, or metaphorical bursts of activity, emotion, or occurrences.

Common error

Avoid using "flurries" excessively in formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise terms like "light snowfall" or "brief period of activity" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "flurries" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to light, scattered snowfall. As Ludwig AI points out, it can also be used metaphorically to describe brief bursts of activity or emotion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Encyclopedias

4%

Independent

24%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flurries" functions primarily as a plural noun, most commonly used to describe light and intermittent snowfall. It also has a metaphorical usage to describe bursts of activity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. While it can be used metaphorically, overuse in formal writing should be avoided. Alternative phrases include "light snow showers", "sporadic snow bursts", or, for metaphorical uses, "bursts of activity".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasional snow flurries

Adds emphasis to the occasional nature of the light snow.

light snow showers

Replaces "flurries" with a more descriptive term for light snowfall.

brief snow squalls

Similar to "flurries" but emphasizes the sudden and short-lived nature of the snowfall.

sporadic snow bursts

Highlights the intermittent nature of the snow, similar to "flurries".

snow dustings

Describes a very light covering of snow, similar to the effect of "flurries".

bursts of activity

Shifts the meaning from snowfall to short periods of energetic action.

outbreaks of commotion

More intense than "flurries", suggesting sudden and disruptive activity.

sudden bursts

Generalizes the concept of "flurries" to any sudden, brief occurrence.

quick bursts

Similar to "sudden bursts", emphasizing speed and brevity.

intermittent showers

Describes a light, infrequent precipitation, whether snow or rain.

FAQs

How can I use "flurries" in a sentence?

You can use "flurries" to describe light snow, as in "We saw "snow flurries" this morning". You can also use it metaphorically, such as "There were "flurries of excitement" before the concert".

What are some synonyms for "flurries"?

Depending on the context, you could use synonyms like "showers", "squalls" (if referring to snow), or "bursts" or "outbreaks" (if referring to activity).

Is it correct to say "flurries of rain"?

While "flurries" is typically associated with snow, it can be used metaphorically to describe a light, brief instance of something. However, to avoid confusion, it's best to reserve "flurries" for snow and use other words like "showers" for rain.

What's the difference between "flurries" and a "snowstorm"?

"Flurries" refer to light, intermittent snow, whereas a "snowstorm" is a more intense weather event characterized by heavy snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility.