hatful
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The amount that a hat can hold: A quantity of something that fills a hat, used as an informal unit of measure. 2. A large number or amount: (Often followed by 'of') An informal expression denoting a considerable quantity or extent of something.
Usage and Examples
Literal meaning (amount a hat holds):
- The child gathered a hatful of berries from the bush.
- He scooped up a hatful of water from the stream with his cap.
Figurative meaning (a large amount):
- She has a hatful of reasons for being late.
- The scandal generated a hatful of negative press for the company.
Advanced Usage
- The word is often used in a slightly humorous or folksy way to emphasize abundance, especially in the figurative sense.
- It is typically used with the preposition "of" to specify what the large quantity consists of (e.g., a hatful of problems, a hatful of ideas).
Variants and Related Words
- Hat: (n) The source object for the measurement.
- -ful: A productive suffix meaning "as much as a [container] can hold" (e.g., , , ).
Synonyms
- A lot: A very common, general synonym for a large amount.
- A great deal: Emphasizes a significant quantity.
- A slew of: Informal, implies a large, often overwhelming number.
- A bunch of: Informal, a collection or large number.
- An abundance of: A more formal term for a very large quantity.
Notes on Meaning
The word has two distinct but related meanings: 1. Concrete/Literal: A specific, container-based measurement (like a cupful). 2. Abstract/Figurative: An idiomatic expression for an unspecified large amount. This second meaning is the more common usage in modern English.
Noun
- as many or as much as a hat will hold
- (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- a batch of letters
- a deal of trouble
- a lot of money
- he made a mint on the stock market
- see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos
- it must have cost plenty
- a slew of journalists
- a wad of money