mountain of refuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mountain of refuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount of waste or garbage, often in a metaphorical sense to emphasize the overwhelming nature of the refuse. Example: "After the festival, the park was left with a mountain of refuse that took days to clean up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The sun rises, the swallows return to Capistrano and our moldering mountain of refuse grows higher.

The New York Times

Trabelsi looks at the mountain of refuse that dominates the landscape for miles.

The Guardian

The moon struggled in its straitjacket: a tremor like that of an earthquake caused avalanches of empty cans to slide down from the mountain of refuse.

The New Yorker

A landslide at another Manila rubbish dump on July 10th, however, was a deadly reminder that eradicating the symbols of poverty does not eradicate poverty itself.Weakened by days of heavy rain, the side of a mountain of refuse at the Payatas dump gave way, burying a scavengers' shanty town at the foot of the slope.

The Economist

After years of planning and politicking, New York City took its first formal step yesterday into a future after the Fresh Kills Landfill, when the City Council overwhelmingly approved a long-term plan to deal with the city's daily mountain of refuse through at least the opening decades of the new century.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Dr. Nagle, 52, knows firsthand what it is like to haul away mountains of refuse.

The New York Times

After being elected mayor in 1994 on Mr Erbakan's ticket, he sought to help the poor and relieved the city of 12m-plus from chronic drought, mountains of refuse and rampant crime.

The Economist

SHANGHAI, March 28 — Song Tiping, a peasant from rural Jiangsu Province, and Bernie Keansley-prAustralianstralian executive, would not at first glance seem to have much in common, and they do not, except for one thing: both were drawn here by the unlikely financial promise of garbage, towering mountains of refuse that attest to this city's status as a raging boomtown.

The New York Times

It's a mountain of festering refuse, a half-hour hike across, emitting clouds of smoke from subterranean fires.

The New York Times

Just like the birthers, who refuse to acknowledge Obama's birth certificate, Issa and Emshwiller refuse to acknowledge the mountain of evidence that the Countrywide VIP "scandal" has been thoroughly discredited.

Huffington Post

To the contrary, New Yorkers just inherited another mountain of trash, courtesy of Albany politicians who refuse to take on the powerful beverage industry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "mountain of refuse" to vividly describe an overwhelming amount of waste, especially when emphasizing the scale and environmental impact.

Common error

Avoid using "mountain of refuse" in highly formal or technical documents. Opt for more neutral terms like "large quantity of waste" or "significant accumulation of garbage" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mountain of refuse" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves as a descriptive term, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mountain of refuse" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a large amount of waste. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While it most commonly appears in news and media contexts, it's important to consider the register and opt for more formal alternatives, such as "significant waste accumulation", in professional settings. The phrase serves to vividly depict waste and often carries a critical connotation regarding environmental impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heap of garbage

Replaces "mountain" with "heap" and "refuse" with "garbage", slightly reducing the scale implied.

pile of waste

Substitutes "mountain" with "pile" and "refuse" with "waste", suggesting a less imposing quantity.

accumulation of trash

Replaces "mountain" with "accumulation" and "refuse" with "trash", providing a more formal tone.

large amount of garbage

Uses a more descriptive phrase instead of a metaphorical one, clarifying the meaning directly.

vast quantity of refuse

Replaces "mountain" with "vast quantity", emphasizing the size but sounding more formal.

immense pile of rubbish

Substitutes "mountain" with "immense pile" and "refuse" with "rubbish", offering a slightly different connotation.

massive collection of waste

Replaces "mountain" with "massive collection", focusing on the gathering aspect.

towering heap of trash

Keeps the image of height with "towering heap" while using the more common term "trash".

extensive accumulation of garbage

Focuses on the widespread nature of the garbage, using "extensive accumulation".

significant volume of refuse

Emphasizes the amount with "significant volume", making it sound more technical.

FAQs

How can I use "mountain of refuse" in a sentence?

You can use "mountain of refuse" to describe a large accumulation of waste, like: "After the concert, the park was covered in a "mountain of refuse"." It's often used to emphasize the sheer volume of trash.

What are some synonyms for "mountain of refuse"?

Alternatives to "mountain of refuse" include "heap of garbage", "pile of waste", or "accumulation of trash". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is "mountain of refuse" a formal or informal expression?

"Mountain of refuse" leans towards being a slightly informal expression due to its metaphorical nature. While understandable in most contexts, more formal settings might benefit from terms like "significant waste accumulation".

What does "mountain of refuse" imply?

"Mountain of refuse" implies a large, imposing quantity of waste. The word "mountain" emphasizes the size and often suggests an overwhelming or problematic amount of garbage.