barrelful
C2Literary, informal, sometimes humorous.
Definition
Meaning
The amount that a barrel can hold.
A large, often excessive or overwhelming quantity of something, typically used figuratively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is literal and quantitative. Its figurative use implies an abundance that is conspicuous, often more than is needed or expected.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The spelling 'barrelful' is standard in both, though the double 'l' may be simplified to 'barrelful' in some American sources (though 'barrelful' is the more common spelling). The plural form 'barrelfuls' or 'barrelsful' are both accepted, with 'barrelfuls' being more common in modern usage.
Connotations
Both share the same connotations.
Frequency
Equally uncommon and stylistically marked in both varieties; slightly more likely in written narrative prose than in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Determiner] + barrelful + of + [Noun][Verb] + a barrelful + (of)[Preposition] + a barrelfulVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a barrelful of laughs/monkeys (informal, humorous, meaning a source of great amusement or chaos)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used informally to describe an overwhelming quantity of data or tasks ('a barrelful of paperwork').
Academic
Very rare. Would likely be replaced by specific quantitative terms.
Everyday
Used for humorous or emphatic exaggeration about quantities of physical objects, problems, or work.
Technical
Extremely rare. Not a standard term of measurement.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We collected a barrelful of apples from the garden.
- The brewery produces a barrelful of beer every hour.
- He told a barrelful of jokes at the party.
- After the storm, we had to sweep up a barrelful of leaves from the driveway.
- The report contained a barrelful of statistics, making it difficult to digest.
- The archives yielded a veritable barrelful of unpublished letters from the Victorian era.
- His latest novel is, as usual, a barrelful of laughs and poignant observations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BARREL that's FULL to the brim – that's a BARRELFUL. The word itself is just 'barrel' plus 'ful'.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VOLUME (CONTAINER). Abstract quantities are understood as physical substances that fill containers.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'бочко' – use a phrase like 'полная бочка', 'бочка чего-либо'. The figurative sense is similar to 'уйма', 'куча', 'масса', 'пропасть'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'barrelfull' (double L at the end is incorrect).
- Confusing with 'barrel' itself. 'Barrel' is the container; 'barrelful' is the quantity it holds.
- Overusing in formal contexts where precise measurements are required.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common function of the word 'barrelful'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, compound word.
Both are technically correct, but 'barrelfuls' is the more common and modern plural form.
No, it can be used for any substance or countable items that could conceptually fill a barrel (e.g., a barrelful of apples, a barrelful of problems).
No. It's a low-frequency word used for specific, often literary or humorous, emphasis. In most contexts, 'a large amount' or 'a huge quantity' is more natural.