great holiday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'great holiday' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a holiday that was pleasant, enjoyable and/or exciting. For example, "I just had a great holiday in Hawaii with my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's like a holiday, really a great holiday.

The New York Times

We are going to have a great holiday season worldwide".

The Guardian - Tech

The mixtape would make a great holiday gift, but it's not on DVD.

The New York Times - Arts

"The audience is going to have a great, great holiday," he said.

The New York Times

Comment about the truth about Thanksgiving - that it is not a great holiday.

The New Yorker

"Everyone knows the green bean casserole," Ms. Lawnzak says, praising it as "a great holiday tradition".

The New York Times

"It was really a great holiday season to shop and get stuff for next season".

The New York Times

That digital photo frame seemed like a really great holiday gift.

The New York Times

One tweeted: "Great holiday but sour taste after the debacle in baggage reclaim last night.

The Guardian

So, what's your tip for a great holiday in the mountains?

The Guardian - Travel

On Fifth Avenue, tourists and New Yorkers hunted for great holiday buys.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In British English, use this phrase for both a day off (public holiday) and an extended trip, whereas in American English, it often refers to a festive day like Thanksgiving

Common error

Avoid using the singular "great holiday" when you intend to wish someone a happy winter season; in the US, the plural "happy holidays" is the standard inclusive greeting for the December period

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great holiday" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "great" modifies the noun "holiday". According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used as a direct object in sentences describing experiences or as a predicative nominative. In many instances verified by Ludwig AI, it serves as a polite closing in correspondence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki & General Knowledge

15%

Professional/Business Correspondence

10%

Less common in

Academic Research

2%

Scientific Journals

1%

Legal Documents

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "great holiday" is a highly effective and positive expression used across the English-speaking world. Ludwig data shows that it is equally at home in high-profile journalism as it is in casual social media posts. While it is grammatically simple—a straightforward adjective-noun pairing—its versatility makes it a staple for describing travel, festive seasons and periods of rest. Whether you are reading a report on "great holiday sales" in The New York Times or wishing someone a "great holiday" on Twitter, the phrase consistently carries a tone of warmth and success. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a "Correct" and "Common" expression that writers can use with complete confidence in almost any non-academic context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wonderful vacation

More common in American English to describe an extended trip away from home

fantastic break

Often used to describe a shorter period of rest or a weekend getaway

excellent trip

Focuses specifically on the travel aspect and the journey taken

lovely getaway

Implies a sense of escape and peaceful relaxation

superb festive season

Specifically refers to the period around Christmas and New Year

brilliant time off

A more informal way to describe any period away from work or study

amazing staycation

Refers to a holiday spent at home or visiting local attractions

splendid leave

Uses more formal vocabulary, often associated with professional environments

delightful recess

Sounds slightly academic or formal, referring to a temporary cessation of activity

grand celebration

Emphasizes a party or festive event rather than just a period of rest

FAQs

How to use "great holiday" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a past experience, such as "We had a "wonderful vacation"", or as a wish, like "Have a "fantastic break"".

What can I say instead of "great holiday"?

Depending on the context, you might say "lovely getaway" if you are going somewhere quiet, or "excellent trip" if you are traveling abroad.

Is "great holiday" or "great vacation" better?

It depends on your audience. "Great holiday" is preferred in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, while "great vacation" is the standard term in the United States and Canada.

What is the difference between "great holiday" and "happy holidays"?

The phrase "great holiday" is usually descriptive or a specific wish for one event, while "happy holidays" is a general seasonal greeting used in the winter.