heap of corpses

USAGE SUMMARY

"heap of corpses" is a grammatically correct and common phrase in written English, and it is often used to describe a large number of dead bodies.
For example, "The battlefield was littered with a gruesome heap of corpses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"A heap of corpses piled up in front of me".

Independent

"I saw a heap of corpses," he said.

The New York Times

Severed limbs, scattered bones, a gleaming rubbish heap of corpses, bring surrealism to its grimmest apogee.

The Guardian - Arts

When he awoke, he found himself in a heap of corpses: his mother, his three sisters, and his six-year-old brother.

The New Yorker

After the Earl has surveyed the heap of corpses, four Valkyries in horned helmets lead the dead to Valhalla (Hall of the Slain).

Independent

Fassbinder retained the Nabokovian humor but introduced his own astonishing touches, like the moment when Bogarde's Hermann, the owner of a chocolate factory during the rise of the Nazis, stares down into a pile of baby-shaped chocolates in a bin, his eyes growing wide with premonitory horror at what suddenly seems to be a heap of corpses.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Both attempted to build liberty upon heaps of corpses, stability on intimidation and fear, fraternity on systematic terror.

The New York Times - Books

Among his more notable productions were Richard III (1964), which ended with the king crawling over heaps of corpses, and August Strindberg's The Father (1967).

Encyclopedia Britannica

This suggests the humanitarianism of our age demands – in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Libya – flattened cities, heaps of corpses, strife and bloodshed in order to find its fullest expression.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even Bond's hard soul is touched when, stranded and dehydrated, he stumbles into a village and discovers death in the form of skeletal children cowering in a hut among heaps of corpses.

The New York Times - Books

This human being would, moreover, be conjoined with all other human beings around him: it wasn't just Hitler who had a violent and authoritarian father and who loved his mother, who felt himself drawn toward art and music, who saw his friends die in the trenches, saw the heaps of corpses, everywhere, every day, for as long as that war endured.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heap of corpses", ensure the context aligns with the phrase's inherently graphic and disturbing nature. It is most appropriate for describing scenes of war, disaster, or extreme violence where a large number of bodies are concentrated in one area.

Common error

Avoid using "heap of corpses" metaphorically or hyperbolically to describe situations that are merely unpleasant or challenging. Its strong imagery should be reserved for scenarios where the comparison is genuinely apt and impactful; otherwise, it risks being insensitive or melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "heap of corpses" is that of a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is a common phrase. It serves to identify a specific, albeit horrifying, entity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heap of corpses" is a grammatically sound noun phrase, typically used to describe a disturbing scene involving a large number of dead bodies. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a common phrase, primarily found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, implying a neutral register despite its graphic content. When writing, it's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations where it accurately and sensitively reflects the described reality, avoiding overuse in metaphorical or hyperbolic contexts. Alternatives such as "pile of bodies" or "mass of dead bodies" may be considered based on the desired level of formality and emotional impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pile of corpses

Uses "pile" instead of "heap", suggesting a slightly less organized or more haphazard arrangement.

grisly pile of bodies

Adds an adjective to emphasize the unpleasant and horrifying nature of the scene.

stack of corpses

Suggests a more orderly, though equally disturbing, arrangement than a heap.

gruesome collection of bodies

Similar to the previous phrase, but using "collection" instead of "pile".

mountain of corpses

Exaggerates the scale, implying an exceptionally large number of dead bodies.

slaughtered remains

Highlights the violent nature of the deaths.

mass of dead bodies

Emphasizes the quantity and lack of distinction between individual bodies.

field of dead

Evokes a scene of widespread death, often on a battlefield.

collection of bodies

More neutral and clinical, lacking the emotional impact of "heap of corpses".

accumulation of fatalities

Highly formal and euphemistic, minimizing the graphic nature of the scene.

FAQs

What does "heap of corpses" mean?

The phrase "heap of corpses" refers to a large, disordered pile or accumulation of dead bodies, often resulting from violence, disease, or disaster.

Is "heap of corpses" appropriate to use in formal writing?

Due to its graphic and disturbing nature, "heap of corpses" is generally unsuitable for formal writing unless the context directly involves describing such a scene. More neutral terms like "collection of bodies" may be more appropriate.

What can I say instead of "heap of corpses"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "pile of bodies", "mass of dead bodies", or, in more formal contexts, "accumulation of fatalities".

How can I use "heap of corpses" in a sentence?

You can use "heap of corpses" to describe a scene, for instance: "The war left a gruesome heap of corpses on the battlefield". Alternatively, you might say: "After the plague, the city was filled with heaps of corpses".