tremendous waste of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tremendous waste of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express frustration or disapproval regarding an activity or task that is perceived as unproductive or inefficient. Example: "After spending hours in that meeting, I realized it was a tremendous waste of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He decided that more disclosure would eliminate "a tremendous waste of time for the auditors and the taxpayer".

The New York Times

Furthermore, dismissing so many people is a tremendous waste of time and money for both the potential juror and the courts.

The New York Times

"It's been a tremendous waste of time and energy arguing about it," said Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg of Duke University Medical Center.

The New York Times

I remember always being delighted by Vesta suppers, particularly because we often ate them in front of the television, the viewing of which was rationed by my father, who thought it a tremendous waste of time.

The Guardian

And then there's the obvious: it's all a tremendous waste of time — maintaining a profile, scrolling through your news feed, watching the dumb video that you tell yourself you didn't intend to click on, and then saying the same for the video after that.

The New Yorker

Whether one thinks that this concept is a brilliant way to observe the workings of the human psyche or a tremendous waste of time for the broadcasters, the participants and the audience, there is no denying that the creation of nightly shows detailing the previous 24 hours in 10 people's lives is an extraordinary technical and logistical challenge.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"A terrific waste of time.

Independent

Love is a terrible waste of time.

The New Yorker

It's a grand waste of time.

WikiHow

"They are a tremendous waste of my time".

The New York Times

Maybe it was during that exchange, as Cameron and Miliband swapped gags that would shame a Poundland Christmas cracker, that one of them – or indeed both – quietly thought: "This really is a quite tremendous waste of everyone's time".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tremendous waste of time", ensure the context clearly indicates the activity's lack of value or productivity. Provide specific reasons why the activity is considered a waste to strengthen your argument.

Common error

While "tremendous waste of time" is effective, overuse can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms like "complete waste of time" or restructuring your sentence to highlight the futility of the activity in a more nuanced way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tremendous waste of time" functions as an evaluative expression, typically serving as a comment or judgment on a specific activity or situation. It's used to express disapproval or frustration, often implying that resources or efforts could have been better utilized, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "tremendous waste of time" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express strong disapproval of unproductive or inefficient activities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys a sense of frustration. While alternatives like "huge waste of time" or "complete waste of time" exist, "tremendous waste of time" remains a powerful way to communicate that something was not just a waste, but a significant one. This phrase finds its place most commonly in News & Media, and while suitable for neutral contexts, awareness of tone helps ensure effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

huge waste of time

Substitutes "tremendous" with "huge", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly less formal tone.

significant waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with "significant", conveying importance but with a more neutral connotation.

complete waste of time

Uses "complete" instead of "tremendous", emphasizing the utter futility of the activity.

total waste of time

Employs "total" in place of "tremendous", indicating that the activity yielded no value.

sheer waste of time

Replaces "tremendous" with "sheer", highlighting the unadulterated nature of the waste.

utter waste of time

Substitutes "tremendous" with "utter", reinforcing the point that the activity was entirely futile.

pointless exercise

Offers a different structure, focusing on the futility of the "exercise" rather than the "waste" of time.

fruitless endeavor

Shifts the focus to the "endeavor" being "fruitless", implying a lack of positive results.

exercise in futility

Presents the activity as an example of futility, emphasizing the lack of any meaningful outcome.

time down the drain

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea that time was wasted without any benefit.

FAQs

How can I use "tremendous waste of time" in a sentence?

You can use "tremendous waste of time" to express your disappointment or frustration with an activity that you consider unproductive or inefficient. For instance, "Sitting in that meeting was a "tremendous waste of time" because nothing was accomplished."

What are some alternatives to "tremendous waste of time"?

You can use alternatives like "huge waste of time", "complete waste of time", or "utter waste of time" depending on the context.

Is "tremendous waste of time" too strong of a phrase to use in formal writing?

While "tremendous waste of time" is generally acceptable, consider the tone of your writing. In more formal contexts, phrases like "significant waste of time" or "fruitless endeavor" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "tremendous waste of time" and "waste of time"?

The addition of "tremendous" intensifies the expression, emphasizing that the activity was not just a waste of time, but a particularly significant or egregious one. It adds a stronger sense of disapproval or frustration.