quick grass
C1Technical/Horticultural; Informal
Definition
Meaning
A perennial grass species that spreads rapidly via rhizomes, forming dense patches, known for its resilience and quick regrowth.
Informally, any grass or weed that grows and spreads aggressively, often to the point of being a nuisance in gardens and lawns.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a botanical/horticultural term for specific grass species (e.g., Elymus repens). In everyday informal use, it can refer more loosely to any fast-spreading, weedy grass.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'quick grass' is a common name for couch grass (Elymus repens). In the US, the term is less standardized; it may refer to similar rhizomatous grasses like quackgrass or be used informally.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with a problematic garden weed. US: Less specific; can carry a neutral botanical or negative weedy connotation depending on context.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK gardening contexts. In the US, 'quackgrass' or 'crabgrass' are more common specific terms, making 'quick grass' less frequent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [garden/lawn] is infested with quick grass.We need to get rid of the quick grass.Quick grass [spreads/chokes] [other plants/the flowers].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Quick as quick grass (informal, rare): describing something that spreads or happens very rapidly.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in landscaping or gardening supply contexts.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and ecology papers discussing invasive species or rhizome biology.
Everyday
Used by gardeners and homeowners complaining about or discussing lawn weeds.
Technical
Precise botanical identification or in horticultural manuals on weed control.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The entire border has been quick-grassed.
- I'm constantly quick-grassing this patch.
American English
- The lawn got quick-grassed over the summer.
- We need to prevent it from quick-grassing again.
adverb
British English
- The weed spread quick-grass fast through the bed.
- (Rarely used as adverb)
American English
- It grew back quick-grass after we dug it out.
- (Rarely used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- A quick-grass problem
- quick-grass rhizomes
American English
- A quick-grass infestation
- quick-grass patches
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is bad grass in my garden.
- The grass grows very fast here.
- My father is trying to remove the quick grass from our lawn.
- Quick grass is a common problem for gardeners.
- Despite our efforts, the quick grass has colonised the entire flowerbed.
- Eradicating quick grass requires removing every piece of its underground stem.
- The rhizomatous nature of quick grass makes it a formidable competitor in the ecosystem.
- Herbicide regimes often fail with quick grass due to its regenerative capacity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A lawn that becomes 'quickly' overrun by grass. It's 'quick' to spread and 'quick' to frustrate gardeners.
Conceptual Metaphor
INVASION/INFESTATION (Quick grass invades the garden), PERSISTENCE (Quick grass is tenacious/hard to kill).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct calque like 'быстрая трава'. It is a specific plant: 'пырей ползучий'.
- The 'quick' refers to 'living' or 'vigorous' (archaic sense) growth, not speed of movement.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quick grass' as a general term for grass that is simply fast-growing but not rhizomatous.
- Confusing it with 'crabgrass' (a different annual weed).
- Misspelling as 'quik grass'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'quick grass' MOST precisely used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Quick grass (couch/quackgrass) is a perennial with rhizomes. Crabgrass is an annual weed that spreads by seed.
In botanical or horticultural writing, yes, but the scientific name (Elymus repens) is preferred. In general formal writing, it is too informal/specific.
The 'quick' uses an older meaning of 'alive' or 'vigorous' (as in 'the quick and the dead'), referring to its tenacious, living rhizomes that readily produce new plants.
Persistent digging to remove all rhizomes, smothering with heavy mulch or cardboard, or using a targeted flame weeder. Complete eradication is challenging.