hefty sum of money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hefty sum of money" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a large amount of money, especially one that is more than is expected or desired. For example: "The lawyer was asking for a hefty sum of money for his services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But Arthur was given a hefty sum of money by his father, made more as an art dealer, and became richer still when he married Hortense Mitchell, the daughter of a Chicago banking magnate.

The New Yorker

The short-term commitment gives him a chance to earn a longer and more lucrative deal next off-season, but it is a hefty sum of money for a soon-to-be 34-year-old who has not played since accidentally shooting himself in the leg in November 2008.

The New York Times - Sports

Although those figures have likely changed as the bill has been modified, the message is the same: The government-sponsored mortgage buyers would be on the hook for a hefty sum of money.

Forbes

If they sell their company for a hefty sum of money, LPs, as well as VCs, get paid, and entrepreneurs have a right to know who's receiving the money.

TechCrunch

I have a little secret that I'm almost afraid to share with other parents of teenagers (I have three), but it's just too good to keep to myself: American families can save a hefty sum of money by sending their high school graduates to university overseas.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As things grew, some decided to take hefty sums of money from investors to build specific businesses around Twitter.

The New York Times

Schools openly arm-twist parents to part with hefty sums of money before admitting children to their portals and euphemistically call it a "donation".

The Guardian - Opinion

In 2000, the Chinese police rescued 123,000 trafficked people.Those who hope to escape poverty or violence at home and manage to avoid the clutches of traffickers often fall instead into the hands of people-smugglers, who charge them hefty sums of money for a trip to a new country, often in appalling conditions.

The Economist

All this gear is versatile, but it's hard to know which one to pick — especially when hefty sums of money are involved.

TechCrunch

Aren't they the ones who are being paid hefty sums of money by parents to make their children better individuals?

Huffington Post

Participants cough up the hefty sum of £200 (or £180 concession) for this privilege.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hefty sum of money" when you want to emphasize that the amount is surprisingly or unexpectedly large, often implying it's more than desired or anticipated.

Common error

Avoid using "hefty sum of money" when describing amounts known to be substantial from the outset; "significant amount" or "considerable sum" may be more appropriate in those scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hefty sum of money" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition, as shown in the Ludwig examples where it represents a considerable amount being paid, saved, or invested.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hefty sum of money" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression used to describe a notably large amount of money, frequently carrying a connotation of being unexpectedly high or significant. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for use in various contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain settings. Analysis reveals that it functions as a noun phrase, primarily used to quantify amounts. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, and academic contexts. For situations where "hefty sum of money" isn't quite right, alternatives like "substantial amount of money" or "considerable sum of money" can offer similar meanings with subtle differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Substantial amount of money

Replaces "hefty" with "substantial", indicating a considerable quantity but with less emphasis on being unexpectedly large.

Considerable sum of money

Uses "considerable" instead of "hefty", suggesting the amount is worth taking into account.

Large amount of money

Replaces "hefty sum" with the simpler "large amount", reducing the emphasis on the unexpected size of the sum.

Significant sum of money

Uses "significant" to highlight the importance or impact of the amount, rather than just its size.

Sizable sum of money

Emphasizes the physical or quantitative size of the amount.

Enormous sum of money

Uses "enormous" to greatly emphasize the scale of the sum.

Huge amount of money

Uses "huge" as a more informal synonym for "hefty", still conveying a great size.

Vast sum of money

Emphasizes the immensity of the sum.

Good deal of money

Indicates a considerable but unquantified amount of money, more colloquial than "hefty sum".

Pile of money

This expression is more informal and emphasizes a large accumulation of money.

FAQs

How can I use "hefty sum of money" in a sentence?

You can use "hefty sum of money" to describe a large, unexpected expense, such as "The unexpected repairs cost a "hefty sum of money"".

What phrases are similar to "hefty sum of money"?

Similar phrases include "substantial amount of money", "considerable sum of money", and "large amount of money", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it appropriate to use "hefty sum of money" in formal writing?

While "hefty sum of money" is acceptable, more formal alternatives like "significant sum of money" or "considerable sum of money" may be preferred in highly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "hefty sum of money" and "large sum of money"?

"Hefty sum of money" implies the amount is surprisingly large or perhaps unwelcome, whereas "large sum of money" simply indicates a significant amount without the added connotation.