full of bacteria

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "full of bacteria" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that contains a large number of bacteria, often in a negative or concerning context. Example: "The kitchen sponge was old and full of bacteria, making it a breeding ground for germs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

* The mouth is full of bacteria.

Independent

And yoga mats can be as full of bacteria as airline blankets.

The New York Times

Idris said that Islam is like "a cave" — he pulled out the Farsi-English dictionary to find the word he wanted — which is "full of bacteria".

The New Yorker

Our mouths – which we put our hands to 250 times a day – are full of bacteria designed to protect us, and dogs' mouths are even better armed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As new blockchains and other distributed ledger systems proliferate, the result is kind of like a petri dish full of bacteria.

MIT Technology Review

Saliva and contact lenses are a no-no as your mouth is full of bacteria that your eye isn't meant to meet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

That is bad enough for those who imagine them brim-full of bacteria.

The Economist

Although we know our bodies are chock-full of bacteria and viruses that can both benefit and hurt us for example, naturally occurring yeast that can also cause yeast infections Niki Wilson at the BBC reports that certain sexually-transmitted microbes (STMs) target and minimize the effects of other diseases.

Vice

For DNA extraction, a loop-full of bacteria from Loewenstein-Jensen (LJ) slant culture or bacterial sediments from 1 ml of liquid media were re-suspended in 300 μl Vircell sample solution and incubated at 95°C for 60 min. After centrifugation for 5 min at 12,000 × g, the lysates were directly used for PCR or stored frozen at − 20°C.

BMC Infectious Diseases

DNA extraction from AFB positive colonies was performed according to Zwadyk et al. by the lysis method: one loop-full of bacteria from AFB positive cultures were suspended with reference strains of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis in 400 μl of 1xTE (Tris ethylene di-amine tetra acetic acid) and incubated for one hour at 80°C [ 21].

BMC Infectious Diseases

We were quite surprised to find the weak strains not only surviving, but thriving". The fact that the full complexity of bacteria strains can now be more accurately understood has significant ramifications for the medical community.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environments or items that are "full of bacteria", be specific about the type of bacteria and potential health implications to provide more informative and impactful content.

Common error

Avoid using "full of bacteria" as a blanket statement. Instead, specify whether the bacteria are harmful, beneficial, or neutral to provide context and avoid unnecessary alarm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of bacteria" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that the noun is characterized by a high concentration of bacteria. Ludwig examples show it describing diverse subjects like mouths, food, and environments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

35%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "full of bacteria" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something containing a large number of bacteria. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used in news and media contexts, followed by scientific and wiki sources. While often associated with negative connotations like contamination and health risks, it can also be used neutrally. To use the phrase effectively, specify the type of bacteria and potential implications, avoiding overgeneralizations. Alternatives include "teeming with bacteria" or "laden with bacteria", offering nuanced ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

teeming with bacteria

Emphasizes abundance and active presence of bacteria.

laden with bacteria

Highlights a heavy presence or burden of bacteria.

contaminated with bacteria

Focuses on the presence of bacteria as a source of impurity or pollution.

infested with bacteria

Suggests a harmful or unwanted presence of bacteria.

abundant in bacteria

Emphasizes the plentiful nature of bacteria in a specific location.

rich in bacteria

Indicates a high concentration of bacteria, possibly beneficial in some contexts.

overrun with bacteria

Implies an excessive and uncontrolled presence of bacteria.

colonized by bacteria

Focuses on the establishment and growth of bacterial populations.

harboring bacteria

Suggests that something is carrying or containing bacteria.

carrying a bacterial load

Highlights the quantity of bacteria being transported or contained.

FAQs

How can I use "full of bacteria" in a sentence?

You can use "full of bacteria" to describe something that contains a large number of bacteria. For instance, "The old sponge was "full of bacteria" and needed to be replaced".

What are some alternatives to saying "full of bacteria"?

Alternatives include "teeming with bacteria", "laden with bacteria", or "contaminated with bacteria", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to say something is "full of bacteria"?

While often used negatively to describe unsanitary conditions, the phrase can also be neutral or even positive when referring to beneficial bacteria, such as in the gut or in certain fermentation processes.

What's the difference between ""full of bacteria"" and ""contaminated with bacteria""?

"Full of bacteria" is a general term indicating a high presence of bacteria, while ""contaminated with bacteria"" specifically implies that the bacteria are unwanted and harmful.