the mountains of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the mountains 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 the holiday season, I returned to the office to find the mountains of work waiting for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Governments as they are constituted are not at all likely to tackle the problems, the mountain of work, that Mr Lake indicates is necessary.

The Economist

"But by this point our goal was not to miss our flight back to the mountain of work that awaited us back in Washington".

The New Yorker

Also speaking against the new rules, Bishop James J. Moynihan of Syracuse, asked the bishops whether they had considered the "mountain of work that is going to be required" if every case is submitted to a church tribunal for judging.

The New York Times

People thinking about the mountain of work ahead of them.

Huffington Post

I gained a new appreciation for the mountain of work and research that goes into every single drug and treatment we take for granted, and at the end of the program, I gave a presentation and turned in a summary of my work.

Huffington Post

According to the 2017 State of American Vacation study, 54percentt of Americans left unused vacation time on the table in 2016, while 43percentt of employees said their reason for opting out of vacation was the "the mountain of work" they'd have upon their return.

Huffington Post

However, even if the phantoms are proven guilty, many Lebanese will be left wondering whether the mountains of investigative work amounted to a molehill of a conviction.

The New York Times

The young man said his brother and sister, who cared for him, had left their home in the mountains of Guizhou for work in factories far away.

The New York Times

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

Forbes

Mr. Williams, a Cambridge-educated mathematical genius from the mountains of North Wales, was working on what his superiors have described as the practical use of new technologies in the field of electronic surveillance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the mountains of work" when you want to emphasize the overwhelming nature of the workload. It can be effective in conveying stress or pressure.

Common error

While vivid, relying too heavily on metaphors like "the mountains of work" can make your writing sound cliché. Balance it with specific details about the actual tasks involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the mountains of work" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to represent a substantial quantity of tasks, especially when implying a sense of being overwhelmed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the mountains of work" is a noun phrase that refers to a large amount of work, often implying an overwhelming feeling. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase is best used to convey the burden of numerous tasks. To prevent overuse, balance it with specific descriptions. While effective, consider alternatives such as "a large workload" or "a substantial volume of work" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large workload

Focuses on the amount of work to be done.

a heavy workload

Emphasizes the burden and pressure of the work.

a vast amount of work

Highlights the extensive quantity of tasks.

an overwhelming amount of work

Emphasizes the feeling of being burdened by the work.

a substantial volume of work

Formally describes the quantity of work.

a huge pile of work

Conveys the image of work accumulated in a disorganized manner.

a daunting quantity of work

Highlights the intimidating nature of the amount of work.

a sea of tasks

Metaphorically describes a large, seemingly endless number of tasks.

an endless list of tasks

Focuses on the continuous and never-ending nature of the work.

a plethora of responsibilities

Highlights the variety and abundance of duties to be performed.

FAQs

How can I use "the mountains of work" in a sentence?

You can use "the mountains of work" to describe a large amount of tasks that need to be done. For example, "After being away on vacation, I came back to face "the mountains of work"."

What's a less dramatic alternative to "the mountains of work"?

If you want to sound less dramatic, you could use phrases like "a large workload" or "a heavy workload".

Is it okay to use "mountains of work" in formal writing?

While "mountains of work" is acceptable, it's generally more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "a substantial volume of work".

What is the difference between "mountains of work" and "pile of work"?

"Mountains of work" implies an overwhelming amount of work due to its sheer size. On the other hand, "pile of work" suggests a disorganized collection of tasks.