heaps of garbage

USAGE SUMMARY

"heaps of garbage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a large quantity of something. For example, "I had to clean up heaps of garbage that was left behind by the previous tenants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

But heaps of garbage litter the landscape.

The New York Times

* * * Why did Obama call our soldiers "heaps of garbage"?

The New Yorker

Why did Obama call our soldiers "heaps of garbage"?

The New Yorker

Heaps of garbage and discarded liquor bottles grow along its potholed and water logged roads.

The New York Times

I hope he'll explain why he called them heaps of garbage.

The New Yorker

Outside, heaps of garbage rot uncollected in the capital's once spotless streets.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

What constitutes a "heap" of garbage piled right outside your front door?

The New Yorker

Put all of this together and the reality of the man is buried underneath a heap of garbage.

The New York Times - Sports

He looked at us and at the wet heap of garbage bags, clasped his hands together in the manner of a Hindu prayer and made a polite bow.

The New York Times

When a boy was thrown out in September 2005, the mummified body of his sister, who had lain in a heap of garbage for a year, was discovered.

The New York Times

A. R. Ammons, an award-winning poet who could turn any topic, even a heap of garbage, into poetry, died on Sunday at his home in Ithaca, N.Y.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental issues or urban decay, use "heaps of garbage" to vividly depict the severity of the problem.

Common error

While acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "accumulations of waste" or "significant quantities of refuse" in professional reports or academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heaps of garbage" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, denoting a large quantity of discarded waste. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heaps of garbage" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to vividly depict a large quantity of waste, often highlighting environmental or urban issues. While suitable for neutral registers like news and general descriptive writing, more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or scientific contexts. Related phrases include "piles of trash" and "mountains of refuse", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Remember, context is key when choosing the most appropriate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rubbish heaps

Inverts the word order, while conveying a nearly identical meaning.

piles of trash

Emphasizes the disorganized nature and worthlessness of the waste.

mountains of refuse

More formal and emphasizes the large quantity of discarded materials.

accumulations of waste

A more technical and neutral term for collected waste.

large amounts of litter

Specifically refers to scattered waste in public places.

significant quantities of rubbish

A more formal and British English term for garbage.

tons of debris

Implies the waste is the result of destruction or damage.

excessive garbage

Highlights the overabundance of waste.

waste accumulation

A general term for the gathering of waste materials.

trash overload

A more informal term highlighting an excessive amount of trash.

FAQs

How can I use "heaps of garbage" in a sentence?

You can use "heaps of garbage" to describe a large amount of waste, as in "The streets were covered in "heaps of garbage" after the festival".

What's a less informal way to say "heaps of garbage"?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives such as "accumulations of waste" or "significant quantities of rubbish".

Is "heaps of garbage" a common expression?

Yes, "heaps of garbage" is a fairly common expression, particularly in descriptive writing and informal contexts. However, frequency can vary by region and publication style.

What are some synonyms for "heaps of garbage"?

Synonyms include "piles of trash", "mountains of refuse", and "large amounts of litter", each with slightly different connotations.