middle of Hanukkah

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "middle of Hanukkah" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the central days of the Hanukkah celebration, which typically lasts for eight days. Example: "We always have a big family gathering in the middle of Hanukkah to celebrate together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It's the middle of Hanukkah.

The New York Times - Sports

Sure, it's Christmas Eve, but Sunday is also smack in the middle of Hanukkah, and wouldn't even a gentile or two prefer potato pancakes to candied yams?

The New York Times

Like all online (or catalog) retailers, the company faces an extra challenge this year because Christmas happens to come right after a weekend and falls in the middle of Hanukkah.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

My hometown of Peoria, Illinois, is in the middle of Middle America.

Vice

DICE is in the middle of Stockholm.

The New York Times - Tech

"In the middle of New York.

The New York Times

Bureaucratic Washington in the middle of Manhattan.

The New York Times

We crashed in the middle of Sixth Avenue.

The New York Times

Walk to middle of Brooklyn Bridge.

The New York Times

He lived in a forest in the middle of Cincinnati.

The New York Times

A mosque pops up in the middle of Nicaragua.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about the general Hanukkah period instead of a specific timeframe, use "during Hanukkah".

Common error

Avoid using "middle of Hanukkah" when referring to events spanning the entire holiday; this phrase specifically denotes the central portion, not the whole duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "middle of Hanukkah" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating a specific timeframe within the Hanukkah holiday. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "middle of Hanukkah" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It specifies events or activities occurring during the central days of the Hanukkah celebration. While its frequency is rare, as indicated by the limited number of examples available, its usage is primarily found in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity, it's important to use this phrase when referring specifically to the central portion of Hanukkah, rather than the entire holiday period. Ludwig offers several alternative phrases, such as "peak of Hanukkah" or "during Hanukkah", depending on the desired level of specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mid-Hanukkah

A shorter, slightly less common way to say "middle of Hanukkah".

midst of Hanukkah

Similar to "middle", implying being surrounded by the Hanukkah atmosphere.

peak of Hanukkah

Refers to the time when Hanukkah celebrations are at their highest intensity.

height of Hanukkah

Similar to "peak", emphasizing the most active or important time during Hanukkah.

halfway through Hanukkah

Indicates reaching the midpoint of the eight-day festival.

heart of Hanukkah

Evokes a sense of the most important and meaningful part of the holiday.

during Hanukkah

A broader timeframe, encompassing the entire holiday rather than just the central part.

central part of Hanukkah

Emphasizes the core days of the Hanukkah celebration.

around the middle of Hanukkah

Less precise, indicating a time close to but not necessarily exactly in the middle.

deep into Hanukkah

Implies that a significant portion of Hanukkah has already passed.

FAQs

What does "middle of Hanukkah" mean?

The "middle of Hanukkah" refers to the central days of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration, typically days three through six. It's useful for specifying events occurring during this particular period.

Is it more appropriate to say "during Hanukkah" or "middle of Hanukkah"?

Use "during Hanukkah" when speaking about the entire holiday period. Use "middle of Hanukkah" when you want to be more specific about something happening in the central part of the celebration. For example, "We light the menorah every night "during Hanukkah"", but "The largest family gathering is always in the "middle of Hanukkah"".

What can I say instead of "middle of Hanukkah"?

Depending on the context, you could use "peak of Hanukkah", "height of Hanukkah", or "mid-Hanukkah" if you are looking for similar phrases. If referring to something happening anytime within the holiday, consider using ""during Hanukkah"".

How do you determine when the "middle of Hanukkah" occurs, given that Hanukkah's dates change yearly?

Since Hanukkah spans eight days, the "middle of Hanukkah" generally refers to the fourth or fifth day of the holiday. To determine the exact dates, consult a Jewish calendar for the specific year in question.