lots of empty plays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lots of empty plays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are many actions or attempts that lack substance or meaningful content, often in a context like sports, theater, or discussions. Example: "The game was disappointing, filled with lots of empty plays that didn't contribute to the score."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Poor defensive backs, particularly cornerbacks, rack up lots of empty "plays".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I remember playing in lots of empty buildings in London with loads of sound systems and weird decorations along corridors," she recalls.

Vice

The other has a television set playing street-level surveillance tapes, lots of empty cigarette boxes and beer cans and, it seems, an interest in guns.

The New York Times - Arts

Still, there were lots of empty seats.

The New York Times - Arts

There are lots of empty buildings around here.

Independent

There are also lots of empty, singing, cerulean spaces.

The New Yorker

"Lots of empty stores and uncertain promises," Mr. Solomon said.

The New York Times

Lots of empty spaces, vacant lots, almost like the Detroit I knew during the war.

The New York Times

Lots and lots of empty seats at game time here at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times

Lots of empty seats," writes Niall Mullen by email.

The Guardian - Sport

There were lots of empty seats, many due to sponsor seats remaining empty, but also many individual seats.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing strategic situations, use "lots of empty plays" to emphasize the ineffectiveness of certain actions, especially when analyzing why a strategy failed. For example, "The team's offensive strategy was riddled with "many futile actions", leading to their defeat."

Common error

Avoid using "lots of empty plays" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated language like "a series of unproductive efforts" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lots of empty plays" functions as a quantifier followed by a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies a noun (plays) to indicate a large number of actions or attempts that lack substance or effectiveness. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lots of empty plays" describes a situation characterized by numerous actions or attempts that lack substance or effectiveness. While grammatically correct, as indicated by Ludwig, it is relatively rare in occurrence and leans towards a neutral register, making it suitable for news and general media but less appropriate for formal academic writing. Alternatives like ""many futile actions"" or "numerous ineffective attempts" may be preferred in more formal contexts. Ludwig's analysis confirms its usability while suggesting careful consideration of the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many futile actions

Replaces "lots of" with "many" and "empty plays" with the more direct "futile actions", emphasizing the lack of positive outcome.

numerous ineffective attempts

Substitutes "lots of" with "numerous" and "empty plays" with "ineffective attempts", highlighting the failure to achieve a desired result.

a plethora of pointless moves

Uses "plethora" to amplify the quantity and "pointless moves" to underscore the lack of purpose.

several unproductive efforts

Replaces "empty plays" with "unproductive efforts", focusing on the absence of valuable output.

loads of meaningless gestures

Emphasizes the superficiality of the actions by using "meaningless gestures" instead of "empty plays".

plenty of hollow performances

Replaces "lots of" with "plenty of" and "empty plays" with "hollow performances", highlighting the lack of depth or sincerity.

many vapid endeavors

Uses "vapid endeavors" to convey the sense of actions lacking intellectual or emotional substance.

numerous shallow acts

Substitutes "empty plays" with "shallow acts", emphasizing the lack of depth or significance.

a series of fruitless activities

Highlights the unproductive nature of the actions by using "fruitless activities" instead of "empty plays".

several worthless games

Replaces "plays" with "games", specifying a type of activity and using "worthless" to indicate the lack of value.

FAQs

How can "lots of empty plays" be used in a sentence?

"Lots of empty plays" can describe actions lacking substance. For example: "The performance consisted of "numerous meaningless actions".".

What are some alternatives to saying "lots of empty plays"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""many futile actions"", "numerous ineffective attempts", or "a plethora of pointless moves".

Is "lots of empty plays" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "lots of empty plays" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives such as "a series of fruitless activities".

What does "lots of empty plays" imply?

The phrase suggests a high quantity of actions that are ultimately unproductive or meaningless, failing to achieve a desired outcome. It emphasizes quantity over quality, highlighting a lack of substance.