heaps of laundry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heaps of laundry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount of laundry that needs to be washed or folded. Example: "After a long week, I found myself staring at heaps of laundry that needed my attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Eliminate Clutter Cancer feels messy inside and out, whether it's the disease itself, invading my body, or the material clutter that comes with disease: heaps of laundry piling up, stacks of unopened bills, orange prescription medication bottles crowding the bedside table, unanswered phone calls and e-mails, and more.

The New York Times

I am not saying that there aren't heaps of laundry and piles of dishes and lunches to endlessly pack and unpack in my life.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The underlying intellectual question about knowledge management is whether people actually think of knowledge as a big heap of laundry just out of the dryer, or as neatly folded pajamas, shirts and so on, all placed in the proper drawers.

The New York Times

"We'll make it so he never wants to leave," said Ms. Principal's daughter Tina, 14, as she chased a puppy over a mound of trash in the living room, around two piles of dog droppings and into a three-foot heap of laundry on the kitchen floor.

The New York Times

Disappointingly, Daisy spends most of her childhood lying under a heap of laundry--a device to thwart Mom, Mom is sure.

Los Angeles Times

That's a lot of laundry.

Forbes

You can even include a picture of a pile of laundry for laundry day.

WikiHow

In the bathroom of his suite are a heap of coed laundry and twin bottles of Librium.

The New York Times

"Mine is the mysticism of everyday life," he writes, "of the heaped laundry and the bruised toe, of overcooked broccoli and leaves spangled with dew, of sunrise and sorrow, laughter and linguine, music and mold".

The New York Times - Health

Write and fold a load of laundry.

The New York Times

GORDON -- I have a Zen of laundry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heaps of laundry" to describe a visually large and perhaps overwhelming amount of clothes that need to be washed. It adds a touch of informality to your writing.

Common error

While "heaps of laundry" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid it in formal documents or professional communications where a more neutral phrase like "large amount of laundry" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heaps of laundry" functions as a noun phrase describing a large quantity of clothes needing to be washed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heaps of laundry" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to describe a large amount of clothes requiring washing. As Ludwig AI correctly states, it is acceptable in written English. While not overly formal, it's a common way to depict a household chore, often conveying a sense of being burdened by the amount of clothes to clean. Alternative phrases such as "large amount of laundry" or "piles of dirty clothes" might be more suitable for professional or formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large amount of laundry

Replaces the informal "heaps" with the more neutral "large amount".

piles of dirty clothes

Highlights the state of the laundry needing to be cleaned.

mountains of clothes to wash

Uses a stronger visual metaphor to emphasize the quantity of laundry.

a mountain of washing

Similar to mountains of clothes to wash

significant volume of laundry

A more formal way to express a large quantity of laundry.

considerable amount of laundry

Similar to 'significant volume' but slightly less formal.

numerous loads of laundry

Emphasizes the number of washing machine cycles required.

a large quantity of washing

A more formal phrasing with the same direct meaning

lots of washing

Focuses on the act of washing rather than the volume of clothes.

copious amounts of laundry

Copious refers to something plentiful. Replacing heaps for copious keeps a similar meaning

FAQs

What does "heaps of laundry" mean?

The phrase "heaps of laundry" refers to a large quantity or pile of clothes that need to be washed.

Is "heaps of laundry" formal or informal?

It is considered relatively informal. In more formal contexts, you might prefer phrases like "large amount of laundry" or "significant volume of laundry".

What can I say instead of "heaps of laundry"?

You can use alternatives like "large amount of laundry", "lots of washing", or "piles of dirty clothes".

Is it correct to say "heap of laundry"?

While grammatically understandable, "heap of laundry" is less common than "heaps of laundry", which implies a larger, more noticeable quantity.