# Americans Using The Term "A Bunch of..." Too often **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660 "2017-02-12T18:47:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jefferson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@Jefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/1 "2017-02-12T18:47:09Z")
I’m noticing more and more educated and articulate people on TV using the collective noun “a bunch of,” too often and I think inappropriately. For, example, “a bunch of alcohol” and “a bunch of hooliganism”. It’s fair enough (obviously) when talking about flowers/grapes/bananas/keys, but far too overused for other things. It needs to be stamped out. Not least because it will soon, presumably, become the norm in Britain. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/2 "2017-02-12T19:10:36Z")
The phrase evidently has crossed the barrier between “things that can be counted” and “things that can be measured”. People have already lost the distinction between “number” and “amount”, e.g. “amount of voters”, so I guess this phrase is just following the misuse. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/3 "2017-02-12T19:12:36Z")
Language evolves whether you like it or not. It can’t be and shouldn’t be fossilized. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/4 "2017-02-12T19:23:04Z")
> [@Jefferson](#): > > I’m noticing more and more educated and articulate people on TV using the collective noun “a bunch of,” too often and I think inappropriately. For, example, “a bunch of alcohol” and “a bunch of hooliganism”. Are you quite sure they’re educated and articulate? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/5 "2017-02-12T19:42:57Z")
It is simply becoming an even lower register form _of a lot of_, which modifies both count and non-count nouns. If we can handle _a lot of alcohol_, we can handle _a bunch of alcohol_. _Bunch_ and _lot_ will become synonymous for these particular usages. ---
**Author:** ![Jefferson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@Jefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/6 "2017-02-12T19:44:56Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Are you quite sure they’re educated and articulate? I am, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Jefferson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@Jefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/7 "2017-02-12T19:46:23Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Language evolves whether you like it or not. It can’t be and shouldn’t be fossilized. It’s more like debasing the language. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/8 "2017-02-12T20:18:22Z")
The correct term is, “Buttload”. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/9 "2017-02-12T20:29:30Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The correct term is, “Buttload”. Whereas a smaller amount is [a [sic] ass pocket.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Ass_Pocket_of_Whiskey) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/10 "2017-02-12T21:31:59Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Whereas a smaller amount is [a [sic] ass pocket.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Ass_Pocket_of_Whiskey) I have this CD! My favorite is “Tojo Told Hitler”. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/11 "2017-02-12T23:22:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The correct term is, “Buttload”. “Metric assload” anywhere other than the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/12 "2017-02-13T03:44:31Z")
The meter is about 10% more than a yard, and a metric tonne is about 10% more than a US ton. Furthermore, a liter is about 10% more than a US quart. So I figure that a metric shitload is about 10% more than a regular shitload. If that helps, any. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/13 "2017-02-13T04:51:31Z")
_“No, I said ‘ **SHIP** me a ton of bricks.’”_ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/14 "2017-02-13T05:07:41Z")
I prefer saying a shit load of… But to be polite in mixed company I say a bunch of… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/15 "2017-02-13T06:04:07Z")
> [@Jefferson](#): > > I’m noticing more and more educated and articulate people on TV using the collective noun “a bunch of,” too often and I think inappropriately. For, example, “a bunch of alcohol” and “a bunch of hooliganism”. > > It’s fair enough (obviously) when talking about flowers/grapes/bananas/keys, but far too overused for other things. > > It needs to be stamped out. Not least because it will soon, presumably, become the norm in Britain. Cuz it’s not like Britain has ever had any slang or anything like that. (Seriously, some British regional accents are absolutely _atrocious_. And I say this as someone with a Pittsburgh accent) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/16 "2017-02-13T06:23:42Z")
The Mpnty Python crew once did an interview, in which John Cleese compared themselves to Terry Gilliam (their off-camera guy), who was the only American among them. They fondly described Gilliam as being totally crass, uneducated, unsophisticated and…a typical American. As proof, they quoted Gilliam himself: When they were all flying together from New York to London, Gilliam looked out the window at the ocean, and said "“Hey look guys—there’s a whole bunch of water down there”. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/17 "2017-02-13T12:11:04Z")
I’ve used that term a bunch of times. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/18 "2017-02-13T12:19:29Z")
I blame Fritos. Munch a bunch of… By the way, which is greater: a shitload or a buttload? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/19 "2017-02-13T12:22:29Z")
> [@Jefferson](#): > > It’s more like debasing the language. English is the most mangled language you can find, used and abused by everyone from every corner of the globe since forever. There’s nothing pure or eloquent about it, so you can hardly debase it. And that’s why it’s such a rich language, so brilliant for literary arts - we should celebrate it in all its forms. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660/20 "2017-02-13T13:12:04Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > English is the most mangled language you can find, used and abused by everyone from every corner of the globe since forever. There’s nothing pure or eloquent about it, so you can hardly debase it. > > And that’s why it’s such a rich language, so brilliant for literary arts - we should celebrate it in all its forms. We need to eliminate standardized spelling if we’re really going to succeed at the whole _building a rich tapestry of language_ thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-using-the-term-a-bunch-of-too-often/779660.md?page=2)