laundry list
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
A long, detailed, and often tedious list of items or tasks.
A metaphor for any exhaustive, itemized enumeration, particularly of demands, complaints, or features, often perceived as overwhelming in its length or detail.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in singular form. Carries a connotation of being overly long or tedious. The 'laundry' metaphor implies mundane, routine items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and remains more common in American English, but is understood and used in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it implies excessive length or tedious detail. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
Used more frequently in American media, politics, and business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
present/give/provide someone with a laundry list of Xthe report contained a laundry list of Ya laundry list ranging from A to ZVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A laundry list of...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe lengthy project requirements or client demands. 'The RFP came with a laundry list of technical specifications.'
Academic
Used critically to describe overly detailed bibliographies or lists of variables. 'The paper suffered from a laundry list of loosely connected theoretical frameworks.'
Everyday
Used for shopping lists, chores, or complaints. 'She gave me a laundry list of errands to run.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields; used more in project management or policy analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not standard; the term is almost exclusively a noun compound.)
American English
- (Not standard; the term is almost exclusively a noun compound.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- (Used attributively) The consultant dismissed it as a laundry-list approach to problem-solving.
American English
- (Used attributively) He submitted a laundry-list complaint to the homeowners' association.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum gave me a laundry list of chores to do this weekend.
- The teacher wrote a laundry list of rules on the board.
- The job advertisement contained a laundry list of required qualifications, many of which seemed unnecessary.
- Before the meeting, he prepared a laundry list of client complaints to address.
- The political manifesto was less a coherent vision and more a laundry list of populist demands.
- The inspector presented the restaurant owner with a damning laundry list of health code violations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine sorting a huge pile of laundry—socks, shirts, towels—it's a long, boring list of items. A 'laundry list' is just like that: long and tedious.
Conceptual Metaphor
TASKS/ITEMS ARE LAUNDRY (mundane, numerous, requiring sorting).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'список для стирки'—this is nonsensical. Use 'длинный список' or 'перечень' instead.
- Do not confuse with a physical list for laundry; it's always metaphorical in this idiom.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to a short or prioritized list (incorrect).
- Using plural 'laundry lists' is uncommon; the idiom is typically singular.
- Misspelling as 'laundrylist' (should be two words).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'laundry list' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively an idiomatic expression meaning a long, tedious list of various items or tasks, not a literal list for washing clothes.
It is informal. In formal writing, synonyms like 'catalogue', 'inventory', or 'detailed enumeration' are preferred.
While it often carries a negative connotation of being overly long or tedious, it can be neutral. However, it rarely implies a positive, curated selection.
It originates from the early 20th century American practice of sending laundry out to a service; one would itemize each piece of clothing on a list to ensure nothing was lost. The metaphor extended to any lengthy itemization.