flurry of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flurry of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a sudden, brief burst of activity or a large number of things happening at once. Example: "There was a flurry of activity in the office as everyone prepared for the upcoming presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A flurry of wrong notes rang out.

The New Yorker

There followed a flurry of petals.

The New Yorker

Rui's appeal triggered a flurry of discussion about Chinese nationalism.

The New Yorker

There was a flurry of posed pictures.

The New Yorker

There was an occasional flurry of excitement.

The New Yorker

Now a flurry of lefts and rights! . . .

The New Yorker

A flurry of diplomatic communiqués followed.

The New Yorker

There was a flurry of different jobs at the beginning: bar work and waitressing and schoolteaching.

The New Yorker

He fielded a flurry of calls on his iPhone as we drove to his house.

The New Yorker

And then, this year, a flurry of news has kept Macau front and center.

The New Yorker

She had received a flurry of calls, from people "who don't usually call me," she said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flurry of" to describe a brief and energetic burst of activity, especially when you want to convey a sense of excitement or suddenness. For example, "A "flurry of" activity followed the announcement."

Common error

While "flurry of" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider alternatives like "surge of" or "burst of" for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flurry of" primarily functions as a pre-modifier in noun phrases. As seen in Ludwig, it modifies nouns to describe a sudden and often brief burst or abundance of something. The examples from Ludwig show it describing "diplomatic communiqués", "news", "calls", among many others.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flurry of" is a versatile phrase used to describe a sudden and energetic burst of activity or occurrences. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While other options exist – such as "burst of" or "wave of" – "flurry of" effectively conveys a sense of quick, often chaotic, activity. Be mindful of overuse, and consider diversifying your vocabulary with related terms to maintain engaging writing. The various examples provided by Ludwig show the broad applicability of this phrase in different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burst of

Implies a sudden and intense but short-lived occurrence, focusing on the abruptness.

surge of

Implies a sudden and powerful increase in something, often used for emotions or activity.

wave of

Suggests a gradual increase and then decrease in occurrence, emphasizing the cyclical nature.

spate of

Similar to "rash of", but can be used for both positive and negative events happening frequently.

rash of

Often used for undesirable events occurring in quick succession, implying a negative connotation.

outbreak of

Suggests a sudden and widespread occurrence, often used for diseases or conflicts.

hail of

Suggests a forceful and overwhelming barrage of something, often used for bullets or criticism.

series of

Implies a sequential occurrence of related events, emphasizing the connection between them.

succession of

Similar to "series of", but emphasizes the order and sequence of events.

cluster of

Suggests a group of things occurring close together, emphasizing proximity.

FAQs

How can I use "flurry of" in a sentence?

You can use "flurry of" to describe a sudden, brief burst of activity or events. For example: "There was a "flurry of" excitement when the team won."

What can I say instead of "flurry of"?

You can use alternatives like "burst of", "wave of", or "surge of" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "flurry of" and "series of"?

"Flurry of" implies a simultaneous, energetic burst, while "series of" suggests a sequential occurrence. "A "flurry of" calls came in after the announcement" versus "A series of meetings were scheduled."

Is "flurry of activity" the same as "surge of activity"?

While similar, "flurry of activity" often suggests a more chaotic or less organized burst compared to "surge of activity", which implies a more powerful and sustained increase.