full of ostrich

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "full of ostrich" is not a standard expression in written English and may not convey a clear meaning.
It could be used in a creative or metaphorical context, but without additional context, its usage is ambiguous. Example: "The room was full of ostrich, a bizarre sight that left everyone puzzled."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The excremental trope was, I thought, stunning: "Are you aware, sir, that you are full of ostrich shit?" It was wonderfully deft in its controlled daring: a lieutenant colonel baiting a rear admiral in public was a scary tightrope act, even in a community as notably hostile to Navy brass as the Marines.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Her closets are full of wild dresses and ostrich-feather boas, and the sunken living room is dense with paintings and porcelain from 18th- and 19th-century Europe — she recently pledged her entire collection to the Staten Island Museum.

The New York Times

Thick slices of ostrich, a lean meat easily overcooked, arrived perfectly medium-rare and full of juiciness.

The New York Times

Everything was luxe, calm and full of sexuality: slender dresses with just a tiny peep of flesh through a geometric cutout, a leather coat belted low and patchworks of ostrich were far away from the brand's recent hippie style.

The New York Times

Remaining insouciant in the face of ostrich onslaught.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Admittedly, I made mine of ostrich feathers and crystals.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And eighth is the Giant Ostrich-Mimic, Beishantong grandis, that appears to be a bizarre mix of ostrich and dinosaur, thought to have weighed 1,400 pounds.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

These finds resemble the openings of ostrich eggshell water flasks described from many southern African sites.

Journal of Archaeological Science

Quail limb element dimensions changed less than those of ostrich and alligator after skeletonization.

Plosone

The worldwide production of ostrich meat is around 12,000 to 15,000 tons per year [ 2].

GigaScience

The genome sequence of ostrich (Struthio camelus australis) contained a gap within the EDCRP gene.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context carefully when using the phrase "full of ostrich". It may be more effective to use a more conventional expression, such as "full of nonsense" or "misguided", to ensure clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming a literal interpretation of "full of ostrich". The phrase typically implies that someone's statements or ideas are foolish, nonsensical, or indicative of someone being ill-informed; using it without understanding this metaphorical meaning can lead to confusion or miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of ostrich" functions as a predicate adjective, metaphorically describing a subject's qualities. Based on Ludwig, the expression is non-standard and primarily used to imply foolishness or absurdity. As exemplified in the search results, its usage often depends on context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "full of ostrich" is an uncommon and grammatically questionable expression, generally employed to suggest that someone's ideas are foolish or nonsensical. According to Ludwig, it's not a standard English idiom, and its infrequent use is primarily found in news media, scientific publications, and online wikis. Because it lacks a precise or widely recognized meaning, substituting it with clearer alternatives like ""full of nonsense"" or "misguided" is advisable for enhanced clarity and comprehension. It's crucial to consider the intended audience and context before deploying this potentially confusing phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

full of nonsense

Replaces "ostrich" with a general term for foolishness, making the phrase more conventional.

full of baloney

Substitutes "ostrich" with a slang term for nonsense, maintaining a similar level of informality.

filled with absurdities

Replaces "full" and "ostrich" with more formal synonyms, emphasizing the ridiculous nature of the content.

replete with foolishness

Offers a more elevated and formal way to express being full of foolish ideas.

overflowing with rubbish

Uses "rubbish" to denote worthless or nonsensical content, similar to "nonsense".

completely misguided

Shifts the focus to the idea of being wrong or misinformed, rather than nonsensical.

utterly preposterous

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective emphasizing the absurdity.

entirely ridiculous

Similar to "utterly preposterous", but with a slightly less strong emphasis.

thoroughly absurd

Again, emphasizing absurdity but with a different choice of words.

stuffed with inanities

Uses "inanities" to highlight the lack of substance or intelligence.

FAQs

What does the phrase "full of ostrich" mean?

The phrase "full of ostrich" is not a common idiom. It typically suggests that someone's words or ideas are nonsensical, ridiculous, or stem from ignorance. The meaning often relies on the listener understanding that ostriches are sometimes incorrectly believed to bury their heads in the sand.

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

The phrase is generally used informally and metaphorically to describe statements or ideas. Example: "His economic theories are just "full of ostrich", completely detached from reality."

What can I say instead of "full of ostrich"?

You can use alternatives like "full of nonsense", "utterly ridiculous", or "completely misguided" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say someone is "full of ostrich"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, the phrase "full of ostrich" is not a standard expression and may sound odd or confusing. It's more common and clearer to say someone is "full of nonsense" or holds "absurd ideas".