to the tune of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to the tune of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to an amount of money, and it is often used in the context of cost or spending. For example, "The company's recent renovations came to the tune of $2 million."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To the tune of billions.

The New Yorker

To the tune of £300m.

The Guardian

To the tune of Goldfinger: MANSPLAINER!

The Guardian - Opinion

The Chiefs are toast to the tune of 38-17.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Song: SOS (To the Tune of ABBA's "SOS").

Stanford University

Still, dictation fast and useful, to the tune of $5.75.

The New York Times - Tech

Peter liked it to the tune of 3 stars.

The Guardian - Film

"Canal Street" sung to the tune of Downtown.

Independent

You are deficient in it to the tune of one".

Independent

But he was right, to the tune of $6,000.

The New York Times

How about (to the tune of YMCA): "Young girl!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to the tune of" to describe a monetary amount, ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a cost, value, or sum. For example: "The project's budget increased to the tune of $5 million."

Common error

Avoid using "to the tune of" when describing non-monetary similarities or styles. Instead, use phrases like "in the style of" or "reminiscent of" to maintain clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to the tune of" functions primarily as a prepositional modifier, quantifying a preceding noun phrase, typically expressing cost or value. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage in specifying amounts, as validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

23%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to the tune of" is a versatile phrase primarily used to specify amounts, particularly monetary values. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a prepositional modifier that adds quantifiable information. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it maintains a neutral register. When writing, reserve this phrase for situations involving quantifiable costs or values, and consider alternatives like "amounting to" when appropriate. While misuse in non-monetary contexts is possible, clarity is best served by sticking to financial discussions. The examples from Ludwig effectively showcase the breadth of situations where "to the tune of" provides valuable numerical context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amounting to

This alternative focuses on the final sum or total.

costing around

This alternative emphasizes the price or expenditure involved.

in the neighborhood of

This alternative suggests an approximate quantity or range.

in the vicinity of

This suggests approximation, similar to "in the neighborhood of".

on the order of

This phrase indicates an approximate quantity or scale.

along the lines of

This alternative signifies a similarity or approximation in approach or idea.

in the style of

This alternative shifts the meaning to indicate resemblance in manner or form.

in the manner of

Similar to 'in the style of', this emphasizes a specific way of doing something.

in the realm of

This alternative focuses on a range or field of discussion.

corresponding to

This phrase indicates a relationship or similarity between two things, often related to music.

FAQs

How can I use "to the tune of" in a sentence?

The phrase "to the tune of" is typically used to indicate an amount, especially a large sum of money. For example, "The renovations cost "to the tune of" $1 million."

What does "to the tune of" mean?

The phrase "to the tune of" usually means 'amounting to' or 'in the amount of'. It's often used to describe the total cost or value of something, particularly when the amount is surprisingly large.

What are some alternatives to "to the tune of"?

You can use alternatives like "amounting to", "costing around", or "in the neighborhood of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "to the tune of" for things other than money?

While "to the tune of" is most commonly used with monetary amounts, it can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe the extent or degree of something. However, it's generally best to reserve it for financial contexts to avoid confusion. For non-financial contexts, consider using phrases like "in the style of" or "in the manner of".