in the bucket for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the bucket for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in informal contexts to indicate that something is set aside for a specific purpose or is pending action. Example: "I have a few ideas in the bucket for our next marketing campaign that I want to discuss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Put something in the bucket, for Chrissakes.

The New Yorker

We had only $14 million in capital, a drop in the bucket for a cruise line.

The New York Times

"This is a real drop in the bucket for what life has in store for you," he planned to tell her at graduation.

The New Yorker

Its backers say it will produce 300MW, three times the total output of Rwanda.That is a drop in the bucket for Ethiopia.

The Economist

Mr. James would not say how much the institute earns, but it is a drop in the bucket for a conglomerate with annual sales of $41 billion.

The New York Times

The revenue generated by these ads is just a drop in the bucket for states and counties with deficits in the millions or billions of dollars.

The New York Times

While that is a drop in the bucket for Goldman, which posted a profit of $13.4 billion in 2009, it is significant for the firm's clearing division.

The New York Times

Mr. Dobbins said the $5,000 fine was a drop in the bucket for a department with a $338 million operating budget for the 2013 fiscal year.

The New York Times

The amount was indeed a drop in the bucket for the institutes, an agency that now has a $15 billion annual budget.

The New York Times

In France, for example, the C.N.I.L. can fine privacy violators up to 300,000 euros, or about $385,000 — a drop in the bucket for a global giant like Google.

The New York Times - Tech

But "$50,000 is a drop in the bucket for a lifetime of losses," says John Boyd, the president of the National Black Farmers Association and a point-man in negotiations with the government.How inadequate is the payout?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the bucket for" when you want to convey that something is being considered or reserved for a particular purpose. It's suitable for informal communication within teams or organizations.

Common error

Avoid using "in the bucket for" in formal reports or presentations. Opt for more professional alternatives like "earmarked for" or "designated for" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the bucket for" functions as a prepositional phrase often used adjectivally to describe the state of a plan, idea, or resource as being available or reserved for a specific purpose. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the bucket for" is a prepositional phrase indicating that something is being considered or reserved for a particular purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While commonly found in news and media, it's also prevalent in formal business contexts. Its function is to communicate that an item is available for future use or consideration, making it a versatile expression for various scenarios. When writing, it's best to reserve it for semi-formal or neutral contexts, opting for more formal alternatives like "earmarked for" in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earmarked for

Implies a more formal and official setting aside of something for a specific purpose.

designated for

Similar to 'earmarked for', but can also suggest a less formal allocation.

allocated to

Suggests a distribution or assignment of resources.

reserved for

Implies that something is being kept for a particular use or person.

saved for

Indicates an intention to use something at a later time.

put aside for

Similar to 'saved for', but can also imply setting something aside from immediate use.

on the agenda for

Refers specifically to items scheduled for discussion or action.

intended for

Focuses on the planned purpose or use of something.

in preparation for

Highlights the preparatory aspect of having something ready for a future event.

under consideration for

Suggests that something is being evaluated as a possibility for a certain purpose.

FAQs

What does "in the bucket for" mean?

The expression "in the bucket for" typically means that something is being considered or is reserved for a specific purpose. It's often used in a business context to indicate ideas or items that are in a preliminary stage or are pending action.

How can I use "in the bucket for" in a sentence?

You can use "in the bucket for" to suggest something is being held for later use or consideration. For example, "I have several marketing strategies "in the pipeline for" the next quarter".

Are there any synonyms for "in the bucket for"?

Yes, you can use phrases such as "earmarked for", "designated for", "under consideration for", or "saved for", depending on the context.

Is "in the bucket for" appropriate for formal writing?

While "in the bucket for" is widely understood, it's generally more suited to informal or semi-formal communication. For formal writing, consider using more professional alternatives like "allocated to" or "intended for".