Collective nouns

stickywicket
stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
edited 16. Jun 2013, 17:47 in Community Chit-chat archive
Mr SW and I got to musing about these on a boring car journey this morning. I then continued the conversation with a friend. We remembered a few between us but I was motivated to look up more. Here are a few favourites.

a draught of butlers
a drunkenship of cobblers
a hastiness of cooks
a bloat of hippos
a superfluity of nuns
a crash of rhinos
a gulp of swallows

Many had more than one collective noun but, amazingly, the ones with the most were swans :? There are no fewer than 12 collective nouns for swans :o

I also love 'an exaltation of larks'.
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Steven Wright

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    How about these?

    A baren of mules.

    A clowder of cats.

    A kindle of kittens.

    A nide of pheasants.

    A siege of herons.

    A sloth of bears. (Shouldn't that be a sloth of sloths?)

    How about this one? A bore of politicians. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A few more

    A bevy of beauties

    A shock of electricians

    A squabble of siblings

    A peloton of cyclists

    A round of drinks(you buying Sticky :lol:)

    A chest of drawers

    A fistful of dollars

    A gaggle of geese

    Joy of children
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    We recently went to a quiz, and had questions on collective nouns for birds. I can only remember a few. :oops:

    A Bouquet of Pheasants (when in flight)
    An Unkindness of Ravens (or Rooks, I'm not sure)
    A Charm of Goldfinches
    A Mustering of Storks
    A Chattering of Choughs
    A Paddling of Ducks
    A Scold of Jays
    A Kettle of Hawks

    A Groan of Arthritics
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A collective noun for arthritics? Well, a few leap to mind (the only leaping I can manage).

    A totter of arthritics.

    A crossness of arthritics.

    A creak of arthritics.

    An impatience of arthritics.

    A grump of arthritics.

    A lurch of arthritics.

    A hobble of arthritics.

    A pill of arthritics.

    I'm trying to find a positive one - :? . I guess I'm not in the right frame of mind for that. :lol: DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :lol:
    What about a Forum of Arthritics ?
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :lol: or an abundance of arthritics
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I've been thinking (these are made up).

    A preach of vicars.

    An education of teachers.

    A chop of butchers.

    A tablet of doctors.

    A click of chiropractors.

    A dispense of pharmacists.

    A dovetail of carpenters.

    A cart of dustmen.

    A dirge of funeral directors.

    A pedal of organists.

    A pulse of nurses.

    A soupcon of gourmets.

    DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • LignumVitae
    LignumVitae Member Posts: 1,972
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My folks sent me to do an entrance exam for a prep school a year early. When I came out my dad asked me how it went and I complained that one section was very easy, the answer to all the questions was the same...'a lot of' :oops: needless to say I failed the exam!! I then had them drummed in to me. My favourite remains the evocative murder of crows.
    Hey little fighter, things will get brighter
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :lol::lol::lol: You are all utterly mad and you make arthritic life so much better. It's almost worth having it. Almost :wink:
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,032
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Fantastic - Numpty and Villier I love both of yours for Artritics
  • maria09
    maria09 Member Posts: 1,905
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You all made me smile :P :P
    Maria
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Having observed some workmen over the past ten days (and I use the term 'workmen' in its loosest sense) I posit these:

    A shovel of workmen.

    A rest of workmen.

    A lean of workmen.

    And after collecting my Ma's jewels after their probate valuation

    A con of jewellers.

    How's about a pip of fruiterers and a leaf of greengrocers? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A squabbling of kids...only took me a day to think of that one... :oops: :lol:
    Love
    Barbara
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    OK, here's my two pennorth:


    A grump of husbands

    A paranoia of golfers

    A petulance of footballers

    A hug of lycra. (That one's for mig.)

    A delight of single malts

    A bewilderment of phone menu options
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A stagger of drunks.

    A leer of letchers.

    A phwoaaar of rugby players.

    A nuisance of cyclists.

    A fuse of electricians.

    An oil of mechanics.

    A thieve of lawyers.

    A dab of artists.

    A rubber of writers.

    A ribbon of typists.

    A nag of wives.

    DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oooh! Nice one, Unsure! :lol:

    A prance of dancers (can also be used for equestrians)

    A snore of trainspotters.

    A nee-naw of ambulances.

    A shrill of sopranos.
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    barbara12 wrote:
    A squabbling of kids...only took me a day to think of that one... :oops: :lol:

    I like it Barbara :lol:

    DD, you're on fire! 8)

    A shine of charladies

    A wag of dogs

    A scratch of cats
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A quack of doctors

    All that I can think of at the mo
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    An itch of fleas.

    A smug of celebs.

    A sin of criminals.

    A dearth of tall, dark and handsome men. :oops:

    DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    An argument of politicians.

    (I'm watching Question Time)
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A cacophony of symphonies
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • Boomer13
    Boomer13 Member Posts: 1,931
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    a meow of cats

    a whine of dogs

    a spit of camels

    a wand of wizards

    a twitch of whiskers
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A plumb of plumbers.

    A hod of builders.

    A tile of roofers.

    A dig of gardeners.

    An urrrrrrgh of poisoners.

    A pose of divers.

    A glimpse of Formula 1 drivers.

    A bully of hockey players.

    A plough of farmers.

    A nap of corduroy manufacturers.

    DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Colin1
    Colin1 Member Posts: 1,769
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I used to cpllect nouns but moved to Lladro as it looked better in the china cabinet
    Colin
    WHEN GOD GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE LEMONADE

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