petty gossip

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "petty gossip" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe small or insignificant rumors or talk about someone behind their back. Example: Despite being the CEO of a successful company, she still engaged in petty gossip with her colleagues, which lowered their respect for her.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

And there is his veiled dismissal of criticism as "petty gossip".

The New York Times

Petty gossip, ignorant screeds, inflammatory pamphlets and religious tracts flowed and overflowed.

The New York Times - Books

"Petty gossip" is how the Pope has described irrefutable evidence of serious crimes.

The Guardian - Books

Back in Rome, on Palm Sunday, the Pope himself spoke darkly of "the petty gossip of dominant opinion".

The New Yorker

On Easter, Cardinal Sodano dismissed criticism of the pope as "petty gossip," words that offended many victims.

The New York Times

Yes, there's travel and excitement, but there's also ineffective management, budgets to balance and loads of petty gossip.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

(In "Harry Potter," the civil war was literally between good and evil; here, it is between petty, gossip-minded liberals and conservatives).

The New York Times - Books

Shows don't get more materialistic and petty than "Gossip Girl," where there is no display of wealth that is too conspicuous, no Machiavellian tactic too underhanded and virtually no crime whose consequences can't be waved away with a handful of money.

The New York Times

The rumors that have surrounded the identity of author Elena Ferrante are not unlike petty teenage gossip, but that hasn't kept them from circulating, especially this month, as the final book in her critically lauded Neapolitan novels has been released in English.

Huffington Post

Feelings, jokes, gossip, petty gripes — it's all there, and you barely have to look for it.

The New Yorker

Feelings, jokes, gossip, petty gripes it's all there, and you barely have to look for it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "petty gossip" to dismiss trivial or unimportant rumors, especially when you want to emphasize their lack of significance.

Common error

Be cautious when using "petty gossip" in formal contexts, as it can sound dismissive or belittling. Ensure the context warrants such a characterization and consider whether a more neutral term like "rumors" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "petty gossip" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "petty" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "gossip". As seen in Ludwig, it often serves to diminish the importance or credibility of rumors or informal conversations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "petty gossip" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe trivial or insignificant rumors and conversations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly correct in written English, suitable for contexts where the intention is to downplay the importance of certain discussions. The term appears most frequently in news and media, as a tool to refer to not very important informations. While "petty gossip" is useful for characterizing unimportant information, the alternatives such as "trivial rumors" or "idle chatter", can be more appropriate depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trivial rumors

Emphasizes the insignificance of the rumors.

idle chatter

Focuses on the purposeless and often aimless nature of the conversation.

insignificant rumors

Highlights the lack of importance attached to the rumors.

small talk

Refers to casual conversation, often about unimportant matters.

trivial talk

Highlights a conversation on topic of little importance or seriousness.

gossipy chitchat

Emphasizes the light and informal nature of the gossip.

meaningless rumors

Stresses that the rumors lack significance or value.

frivolous gossip

Implies that the gossip is unserious and perhaps even amusing.

unimportant rumors

Focuses on the lack of significance of the rumors.

trifling gossip

Suggests the gossip is insignificant and not worth considering.

FAQs

How can I use "petty gossip" in a sentence?

You can use "petty gossip" to describe insignificant rumors or idle talk. For example: "The office was filled with "petty gossip" about the manager's personal life."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "petty gossip"?

Alternatives include "idle chatter", "trivial rumors", or "insignificant rumors", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "petty gossip" considered formal or informal language?

"Petty gossip" leans towards informal language, making it more suitable for casual conversation or less formal writing. In formal contexts, consider using more neutral terms like "rumors" or "speculation."

What's the difference between "petty gossip" and "malicious gossip"?

"Petty gossip" refers to trivial and insignificant rumors, while "malicious gossip" implies harmful or intentionally damaging rumors. The key difference lies in the intent and potential impact of the gossip.