mountain of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mountain of work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount of work or tasks that need to be completed, often implying that it feels overwhelming. Example: "After returning from vacation, I was greeted by a mountain of work waiting for me on my desk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"It leaves a mountain of work for us".

The New York Times

He produced a mountain of work published in some 40 books.

The Economist

"He's a bonny horse who takes a mountain of work and he has toe," Henderson said.

The Guardian - Sport

I was feeling under the weather and had a mountain of work, so I sent my regrets.

The New York Times

There is a mountain of work still to be done to turn the venues into sporting theatres.

Independent

And if multiple breaks are out of the question when you're buried under a mountain of work?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

She never married, perhaps because her social life was circumscribed by the mountains of work she habitually brought home.

The New York Times

They seem to have one thing in common: an uncompromising teacher who takes his mission seriously and expects mountains of work.

The New York Times

But I am only 17, and constantly inundated with mountains upon mountains of work: a multitude of expectations carelessly slung alongside constant overhanging thoughts on whether I am too fat, too tall or too blonde.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The new tax law foists mountains of work on the beleaguered IRS.

Forbes

Many medical students are similarly drowning under mountains of work.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mountain of work", consider the audience. While appropriate in many contexts, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "significant responsibilities" or "extensive duties."

Common error

Avoid using "mountain of work" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement. Instead of saying, "I had a mountain of work after vacation, which created a mountain of work-related stress", try "I faced significant responsibilities upon returning from vacation, which led to considerable work-related stress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mountain of work" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject complement. Ludwig shows the phrase describing a large quantity of tasks that need to be completed. This phrase often conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by the amount of work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

19%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mountain of work" is a common and generally acceptable way to describe a large and often overwhelming workload. As Ludwig confirms, it is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider the audience and context when using this phrase. In more formal settings, alternatives like "significant responsibilities" or "extensive duties" may be more appropriate. Be mindful of overuse and vary your language to avoid redundancy. Using "mountain of work" conveys a sense of being burdened, so choose it when you want to emphasize the magnitude and potential difficulty of the tasks at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large volume of work

Directly points to the quantity of work.

immense workload

Similar to heavy workload but even more intensifier.

heavy workload

Emphasizes the amount of work in terms of effort and pressure.

vast amount of tasks

Highlights the numerous tasks that need completion.

significant responsibilities

Focuses on the importance and scope of duties.

extensive duties

Highlights the comprehensive nature of assigned tasks.

considerable obligations

Stresses the binding nature of tasks.

substantial assignments

Emphasizes the size and importance of assigned projects.

overwhelming tasks

Highlights the feeling of being burdened by the work.

endless projects

Implies the continuous and never-ending nature of the work.

FAQs

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

You can use "mountain of work" to describe a large amount of work that needs to be done, such as "After the conference, I returned to a "mountain of work"".

What's a more formal alternative to "mountain of work"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "significant responsibilities" or "extensive duties" instead of "mountain of work".

Is it appropriate to use "mountain of work" in professional communication?

Yes, "mountain of work" is acceptable in many professional settings, especially when describing an overwhelming workload. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your communication. If a more formal tone is required, alternatives like "substantial assignments" may be more suitable.

What feeling does the phrase "mountain of work" convey?

"Mountain of work" often conveys a sense of being overwhelmed or burdened by the amount of work. It suggests that the workload is substantial and may be difficult to manage. If you want to avoid this connotation, you might choose a more neutral phrase like "large volume of work".