hurry-scurry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “hurry-scurry” mean?
confused, disorderly, and panicked rushing about.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
confused, disorderly, and panicked rushing about.
A state or instance of chaotic, frantic, and often disorganized haste.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is equally uncommon in both dialects.
Connotations
Conveys a slightly old-fashioned or whimsical tone. Can be used humorously or critically to describe inefficient busyness.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary speech; more likely found in written narrative or descriptive prose.
Grammar
How to Use “hurry-scurry” in a Sentence
be in a [hurry-scurry]descend into [hurry-scurry]the [hurry-scurry] of the cityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hurry-scurry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They began to hurry-scurry about the garden when the rain started.
American English
- Don't just hurry-scurry through the paperwork; read it carefully.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used critically: 'Avoid the post-meeting hurry-scurry; take time to plan.'
Academic
Extremely rare, except perhaps in literary analysis.
Everyday
Used humorously to describe a chaotic scene: 'The kitchen was a hurry-scurry of last-minute dinner prep.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hurry-scurry”
- Using it as a standard verb (*'Let's hurry-scurry to the station'). It's primarily nominal/adjectival.
- Spelling as 'hurryscurry' without a hyphen.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare in modern English and has a literary or slightly old-fashioned feel.
Yes, but this usage is even rarer than its noun/adjective forms. It means 'to move or act in a hurried, disorderly manner.'
'Hurry' denotes speed. 'Hurry-scurry' adds a layer of confusion, panic, and disorganization to that speed.
Yes, it is standardly written with a hyphen as it is a reduplicative compound.
confused, disorderly, and panicked rushing about.
Hurry-scurry is usually informal, literary in register.
Hurry-scurry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌr.i ˈskʌr.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɝː.i ˈskɝː.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All hurry-scurry and no progress.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HURRY-SCURRY rhymes and sounds like someone bumping into things while rushing – 'hurry' then quickly 'scurry' like a mouse.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAOS IS DISORIENTED MOTION / EFFICIENCY IS ORDERLY PROGRESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'hurry-scurry'?