gob

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence.
Gob is not a commonly used word in written English. However, it can be used as a slang term to refer to an amount of food, as in, "He ate a gob of mashed potatoes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I've got a bit of a gob on me," says Newman.

The Guardian - Music

In return for $1,000 and a generous gob of saliva, the firm will analyse a customer's DNA and post the results on its website, whose social networking features (which allow users to meet strangers with similar genetic variations) are not unlike those of Facebook.

The Economist

It hissed through the air and landed smack on the face, like a gob of mud.

The Economist

Broadway's producers have sunk millions into tarting up old classics or adapting Disney's latest gob of sugary goo in search of the next hit.

The Economist

Give the device a gob of spit or a drop of blood and it will tell you whether or not you are sick without any need to send your DNA to a laboratory.

The Economist

For several weeks it has been puffing out dense ash clouds and spitting the occasional gob of red-hot lava.

The Economist

A gob of molten glass gathered onto the opposite end of the tube is enlarged by a bubble of air blown into it through the tube.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Working around politics for more than a decade I saw it firsthand: gob-smacking leadership bastardry; nervous breakdowns; suicide; venality, greed and treachery; filthy character assassination; crushing loneliness and depression.

The Guardian - Books

Separately, I have been gob-smacked to be told by a senior academic at the Central Party School that the United States should invade Pyongyang and unseat the atrocious Kim Jong Il.

The Economist

EVEN in a week with plenty of news to impress Wall Street, Bank of America's announcement on June 30th that it plans to buy MBNA was a gob-smacker.

The Economist

He seemed gob-smacked that he had to elaborate.9 20: Translation: if you're elected president, how do you expect to be Ron Paul 9 19: That Fox is using the Google chat sound to buzz the candidates is confusing me in my efforts to live-blog using Google chat.9 17: Cain: "the current tax code: that dog won't hunt".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gob" judiciously; overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or unrefined.

Common error

Avoid using "gob" in formal writing. Opt for more neutral terms like "mouth" or "lump" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gob" is as a noun, referring either to a lump of material, saliva, or, informally, the mouth. It can also function as a verb, meaning to spit. Ludwig illustrates these uses through various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "gob" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a lump of something, saliva, or informally, the mouth. Ludwig's analysis reveals it's commonly found in News & Media, but its level of formality varies depending on the context. While grammatically correct, its informal nature suggests caution in professional or academic writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, "Gob is not a commonly used word in written English. However, it can be used as a slang term to refer to an amount of food".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mouth

A more standard and neutral term for the opening in the face used for speaking and eating.

gobbet

A lump of something (often food).

trap

Slang term for mouth

cakehole

Slang term for mouth

maw

A less common word for mouth

lump

Refers to a solid mass or shapeless piece of something.

dollop

A small quantity of a soft solid

mass

Generic term for a quantity of material

wad

A lump or bundle of soft material

mound

A heap or raised pile of something.

FAQs

What does "gob" mean?

"Gob" can refer to a lump of something, saliva, or, informally, the mouth.

What can I say instead of "gob" when referring to the mouth?

You can use alternatives like "mouth", "trap", or "cakehole", depending on the level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "gob" in formal writing?

No, "gob" is generally considered informal and is not suitable for formal writing. Use more neutral terms instead.

How do I use "gob" in a sentence?

When referring to a lump of something, you might say, "He spat a "big ball of gob" on the pavement." When referring to the mouth, you could say, "Shut your "gob"!"