FICTITIOUS
COLLECTIVE NAMES
The page of collective names has
created a lot of interest and some very unusual suggestions, so I thought I
would start a new page of the more "suspect" or innovative ones in order not to
confuse the younger visitors.
Please note
- many of these suggestions are provided by our visitors and are not
necessarily 'endorsed' by Hints and Things.
| ACADEMICS |
A
DEBATE of academics.
A BEFUDDLEMENT
of academics.
Alex
Oldham
|
| ACCOUNTANTS |
An
ADEQUACY of Accountants
An
ALCHEMY of Accountants
Krysia
Jones
|
| AIRLINE
PILOTS |
A FLIGHT
of airline pilots.
Bob Beecher
|
| ALLIGATORS |
A GNAW
of alligators.
Tom Moores
and Pat Carter
|
| AMBULANCES |
A
SIREN of ambulances.
Paul
Taylor
|
| AMERICANS |
A DYSENTERY
of Americans.
Michael
Hughes
|
| ANTIQUE
DEALERS |
A PROVENANCE
of Antique Dealers
Natalie
Stevens
|
| ANTS |
A HILL
of ants.
Alexandra
Bylczynski
A "hill
of ants" and "a hill of beans" refer to a unit quantity.
Like a "home room of students."
Harold
Daughety
|
| BACTERIA |
A CULTURE
of
bacteria.
Michael Haberl
A COLONY
of bacteria.
I have been advised by Gajanan
Joshi that this should be A COLONY of bacteria - he believes a
CULTURE refers to bacteria grown in a lab or a factory on a growth
medium.
|
| BATHING
BEAUTIES |
A DELIGHT
of bathing beauties.
Ezz Bish |
| BIGFOOT |
A BRETHREN
of bigfoot.
Andrew |
| BINS |
A LITTER
of bins.
Contributed
by Ezz Bish |
| BISHOPS |
A CONSISTORY
of bishops.
Submitted
by Trev Sewell. |
| BOFFINS |
A MENSA
of boffins.
Paul
Middlewood |
| BUTCHER |
A MEAT
of butchers.
Ray Cramp |
| CAR
PARTS |
A CLUTCH
of car parts.
Ezz Bish |
| CARPENTERS |
A CABINET
of carpenters.
John Barron A
PLANK of carpenters.
Jerry
Miakush |
| CATS |
A CLAW
of cats.
Fran Wheeler |
| CHEFS |
A POT
of chefs.
Tig Dupre |
| CHIHUAHUAS |
A TEETH
of chihuahuas
Christina
Gonzales
A YAP
or a SHAKER of Chihuahuas.
Linda
Compton |
|
CHILDREN
|
A GIGGLE
of children
Sent
in by Sarah Smith
A CHALLENGE
or CHEEK of children.
Krysia Jones
|
| COMEDIANS |
A CHUCKLE,
CHORTLE, CACKLE
or QUIP of comedians.
Contributed
by Ezz Bish |
| COMPOSERS |
A SCORE
of composers.
George
Dudley Warbeck |
| CORGIS |
A CHAOS
of corgis.
David R.
Palmer
A CACOPHONY
of corgis.
A CAROUSEL
of corgis.
Sherry
Palmer |
| COSMETOLOGISTS |
A
CUTTING of
cosmetologists.
R.
Zimmerman |
| COUCH
POTATOES |
A
SLOB of couch potatoes.
Paul
Taylor |
| COUNTRIES |
A
UNION of countries.
Rich
Cummings |
| CREDIT
CONTROLLERS |
A
CASH of Credit
Controllers
Krysia
Jones |
| CREDITORS |
A
CONDESCENDENCE of
Creditors
Krysia
Jones |
| CRIMINALS |
A
CELL
of criminals.
Mark
MacLean |
| CROWS |
A CAUCUS
of crows (this is a fictitious one!)
A CACOPHONY
of
crows.
Suggested by Joe Lanteri
|
| DACHSUNDS |
A
STRETCH, a MOXIE
or a DEVILMENT of
Dachsunds
Karen A.
Jones
|
| DECORATORS |
A SPLATTERING
of decorators.
Ezz Bish |
| DENTISTS |
An INJECTION
of dentists.
Ezz Bish. |
| DERMATOLOGISTS |
A RASH
of dermatologists.
Jinxy |
| DIGGERS |
A TRENCH
of Diggers
Krysia
Jones |
| DREAMS |
AN ELYSIUM
of dreams.
Krysia
Jones |
| DRUGGIES |
A STASH
of druggies.
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| DRUNKS |
A STAGGER
of drunks.
Jinxy |
| DUNG
BEETLES |
A
****LOAD of dung
beetles (asterisk for obvious reasons)
Thanks Susan |
| EDITORS |
A CUT
of editors.
A DISSOLVE
of editors.
David Scott |
| ELECTRICIANS |
A SHOCK
or SHOCKING of
electricians.
John Barron |
| EMOTION |
AN EXCITEMENT
of emotion.
Krysia Jones |
| ENGINEERS |
A CONFUSION
of engineers.
Richard
Jarvis |
| ENGINES |
A PISTON
of engines.
Bryan
Solomons |
| FIRE
& GAS TECHNICIANS |
A SNOOZE
of fire and gas technicians.
Keith Tomlin |
| FIREMEN |
A
SPRINKLER
of firemen.
Alan
Jameson |
| FIREWORKS |
A SPARKLE
of Fireworks,
A FIZZ
of Fireworks
A FANTASMO
of Fireworks
A FANTASTIKO
of
Fireworks
Krysia Jones |
| FISHERMEN |
A
FLEET
of fishermen.
Alan Jameson |
| FLEAS |
An ANNOYANCE
of
fleas. Contributed by Randy Nissley |
| FLORISTS |
AN ARRANGEMENT
of florists.
Jerry
Miakush |
| FRAGGLES |
A GAGGLE
of Fraggles (80s TV show)
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| GATORS |
A LUGGAGE
of gators.
Garry
Adrian |
| GERMAN
SHORT HAIRED POINTERS |
A SPAZ
of German short haired pointers,
Christina
Gonzales |
| GIRL
SCOUTS |
A SALES
FORCE of girl scouts.
Michael
Henderson |
| GIRLS |
A GIGGLE
of girls.
Tig Dupre
|
| GORILLAS |
A WHOOP
of gorillas.
Andy Totterdale
This
term could, in fact, be a genuine one. It was used in a sketch on
"Not the Nine O'Clock News" but no confirmation from reputable
sources can be found. If you know otherwise please let us know. |
| GREMLINS |
A CONSPIRACY
of gremlins.
Lucki
Wilder |
| GROANS |
A PUNISHMENT
of groans.
Harold
Daughety |
| GUINEA
PIGS |
A
SQUEAK of guinea pigs.
Paul
Taylor
A FAMINE
of guinea pigs.
Adrian
Favell
This may,
in fact, be a true collective term for guinea pigs but I have not been
able to confirm this. If anyone out there knows please let us know
and it can be transferred to the genuine page. |
| GUNZELS |
A GAPE
of gunzels.**
Barry Blair
Apparently a "gunzel"
is an Australian term for people interested in watching trains, engines
and locomotives. These are sometimes called "railfan",
"rail buff" or, here in the UK, a "train spotter". |
| HEALTH
VISITORS |
A HUDDLE
of health visitors.
Anon |
| HIGH
STEEL RIGGERS |
A FLIGHT
of high steel riggers.
John Barron |
| ICE
SKATERS |
A SLIP
of ice skaters.
Jinxy |
| IN
SCHOOL SUSPENSION/DETENTION STUDENTS |
A
CONSEQUENCE, SILENCE, PURGATORY,
DISCIPLINE, REJECTION, GULAG, PURGE, SLACKARD
of ISS students.
R. Zimmerman
An IDIOT, INCARCERATE,
IMPERTINENT, INJUDICIOUS, INQUEST, INTERDICT,
INTERDICTION, INTERVENTION, INTRANSIGENT, IRRESPONSIBLE,
ILL-CONSIDERED, INCONSIDERATE, IMMURE
of ISS
C. Leininger |
| JAGUARS |
A PRESCOTT
of jaguars.
Peter Taylor |
| JAPANESE |
A CLICK
of Japanese
Michael
Hughes |
| JOURNALISTS |
A
GAGGLE
of journalists
Jamie Blanche |
| JUDGES |
A SENTENCE
of judges.
Jinxy
A CONVICTION
of judges.
Mark MacLean |
| KWIK-FIT
FITTERS |
A TREAD
of Kwik-Fit fitters
Paul Taylor |
| LADYBIRDS |
A MOTHERS'
MEETING of ladybirds.
Mark |
| LAWYERS |
A SUIT
of lawyers.
Tig Dupre
A PLAGUE
of lawyers
George
Dudley Warbeck |
| LIARS |
A BLAIR
of liars.
Paul Taylor |
| LIBRARIANS |
A CARDIGAN
of librarians.
Donna and Les
Duff A CATALOG
of librarians. Bob
Beecher A SHELF
of librarians.
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| LOONS |
A CHECKERBOARD
of loons.
A WORRY
of loons.
Tom
McCarthy |
| LUMBERJACKS |
A BRANCH
of lumberjacks.
Paul Taylor |
| MAIL
CARRIERS |
A PARCEL,
an EXPRESS or a DELIVERY
of mail carriers.
Karen A.
Jones |
| MASONS |
A FOUNDATION
of masons.
John Barron |
| MEN |
A
MACHO
of men,
I think this should be a MUDDLE
of men!!!!
Alan Jameson A
MESS of men.
Krysia Jones |
| MICROBIOLOGISTS |
A SLIDE
of microbiologists.
Jerry
Miakush |
| MOSQUITOES |
A BUZZ
of mosquitoes
Sara Slabbert A
SQUADRON of mosquitoes A
CAULDRON of mosquitoes Greg
Stocker An
ANNOYANCE of mosquitoes Sarah
P. |
| MUSICIANS |
A SYMPHONY
of musicians.
Bob Beecher |
| NEWSPAPERMEN |
A
HEADLINE
of newspapermen.
Bob Beecher |
| NURSES |
A
HEAVEN of
nurses.
Alan Jameson.
A BITCH
of nurses. Diane
Campbell |
| OBSERVERS |
An OBSEQUIOUSNESS
of Observers.
Krysia
Jones |
| OCEANOGRAPHERS |
A
SEA of oceanographers.
John Barron |
| OPTICIANS |
A FOCUS
of opticians.
Krysia Jones |
| PAINTERS |
A
PALETTE of painters.
Jerry
Miakush |
| PATCH
COLLECTORS |
A STITCH
of patch collectors.
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| PATHOLOGISTS |
A BODY
of pathologists.
Stephen
Lee-Woolf |
| PELICANS |
A PASCLE
of pelicans (pronounced "passal" )
Paul
Jacobson
This
term may be
authentic but could not be confirmed.
Paul has
also kindly supplied some additional information on this one.
Only
applies to the white pelican, which winters on the southern coasts of
Florida and California with it's brown cousins. Summers find it on the
great plains at many small reservoirs. (There are currently around
2000 or so at Jackson Lake State Park in northeast Colorado.)
According to the book, they are found as far north as the middle of
Alberta and Saskatchewan. (SP?)
A SQUADRON
of pelicans.
Patrick
|
| PENGUINS |
A
PARCEL
of
penguins.
Duncan
This
term may be
authentic but could not be confirmed.
|
| PEOPLE |
A FAMILY
of people.
A CONGREGATION
of people
A CROWD of
people.
Anon.
A POPULATION
of people.
Krysia
Jones |
| PERFUMIERS |
A FRAGRANCE
of Perfumiers.
Krysia
Jones |
| PHARMACISTS |
A
SCRIPT
of pharmacists.
John Barron |
| PHILOSOPHERS |
A THOUGHT,
FREUD of JUNG
of philosophers.
John Barron |
| PHOTOGRAPHERS |
A GALLERY
of photographers.
An ALBUM
of photographers.
Donna and Les
Duff
A GAGGLE
of photographers.
David
Belleville |
| PHYSICISTS |
A QUARK
or QUANTUM of physicists.
John Barron A
TANGLE of physicists. Jamie
Blanche |
| PIGEONS |
A SHAME
of pigeons.
Karl Slater |
| PIT
BULLS |
A PANDEMONIUM
of pit pulls.
Natalie
Stevens
|
| POETS |
A RHYME
of poets.
Kerry Parke
|
| POKER
PLAYERS |
A DRAW
of poker players.
Jinxy
|
| POLICEMEN |
A PAIN
of policemen.
Submitted by Gine Wells.
A POSSE
of
policemen.
Alan Jameson
An ARREST
of policemen.
Tig Dupre
|
| POLITICIANS |
An
EXPENSE
or
CHAOS
of
politicians.
Contributed by John
Mihaljevic
A FIB
of politicians.
Jinxy
A SHAME
of politicians.
Tom Moores
and Pat Carter
A CORRUPTION
of politicians. Roger
Webb
|
| POMERANIANS |
A TRIUMPH
of pomeranians
Christina
Gonzales |
| POSSUMS |
A LARD
of possums..
Prof. H.
Crawford |
| POSTMEN |
A PARCEL,
an EXPRESS or a DELIVERY
of postmen.
Karen A.
Jones |
| PREACHERS |
A GLORY
of preachers.
Tom
Moores and Pat Carter |
| PRESENTERS |
A
WAFFLE of presenters.
Jinxy |
| PRINCIPALS |
A
GRADUATION, PADDLE, SWITCH,
DETENTION, EXPULSION of principals.
R. Zimmerman
A PEDAGOGY, PINSTRIPE
(or POLYESTER depending on
the economic condition of the school), POOH-BAH,
PRAXIS, PREPONDERANCE, PROMINENCE, ZIMMERMAN
of principals.
Ms. Leininger |
| PROJECT
MANAGERS |
A PLAN
of project managers.
Tom
Davidson |
| PROJECTIONISTS |
A SHOW
of projectionists.
John Barron |
| PSYCHOANALYSTS |
A COMPLEX
of psychoanalysts
Submitted
by Paolo Fanutza. |
| RABBITS |
A MULTIPLICATION
of rabbits.
Ruby Baker
This maybe a
true term; if anyone can confirm that to be the case please let
us know and it will be transferred to the page at http://www.hintsandthings.com/kennel/collectives.htm |
| RAPPERS |
A TORTURE
of rappers.
Natalie
Stevens |
| RATS |
AN INQUISITIVENESS
of rats.
Submitted by John, Kath & Family.
|
| RAVENS |
A MISERY
of ravens.
Sue
Worthington
If
anyone can prove this to be a true collective term for Ravens please
let us know the source so it can be moved to the appropriate page.
|
| REPUBLICANS |
A SLEAZEBUCKET
of Republicans.
Lara
Williamson courtesy of Matt Groening
|
| ROBINS |
A BOBBIN'
of robins.
Natalie
Stevens |
| ROCK
CLIMBERS |
A GRIP
of rock climbers.
Paul Taylor |
| SALESMEN |
AN
IMPLAUSIBILITY
of salesmen.
Richard
Jarvis |
| SALIVA |
A SPLATTERING
of saliva.
Ezz Bish |
| SASQUATCH |
A SMAGLINSKI
of Sasquatch
A STINK
of Sasquatch
Professor
Alex J. Ivall
Additional
information provided by Prof. Ivall.
Technical
term for this group of animals is EUQUADH or (you ka duh).
This is derived from native Canadian word meaning big smell. The
Iroquois translation of a similar word , EKADA , meaning foul air. The
terms generally relate to the foul stench emitted by
the mythical beast. |
| SCHOOL
CANES |
A THWACK
of school canes.
Ezz Bish |
| SEARCH
ENGINES |
A TRAWL
of search engines.
Ezz Bish |
| SHEEP |
A GAMBOL
of sheep.
Ezz Bish |
| SHREWS |
A GOSSIP
of shrews.
Submitted
by Sheila Lee. |
| SMART
CARS |
A
SMUG
of smart cars.
Suggested by Annette
Eggleton. |
| SMOKERS |
A
WHEEZE of smokers.
Lucki
Wilder A PACK
or GASP of smokers.
Tom Moores
and Pat Carter
A COUGHIN
of smokers.
Linda
Compton |
| SOCCER
PLAYERS |
A SCORE
of soccer players.
Jinxy |
| SOLICITORS |
A PREVARICATION
of Solicitors
Neil
Wallace Smith |
| SPIES |
A TREASON
or TREACHERY of spies.
Ezz Bish |
| STINGRAYS |
A FEVER
of stingrays. ******
Jen Albert
& Patrick McCarthy
****** This term
has been sent in by two different people, however, they are
notoriously difficult to authenticate. I have been unable to
find any other mention of this term, hence, it being placed in the
Fictitious list, if however, anyone can find this term mentioned
elsewhere I would be delighted to hear from you so it can be
transferred to the "Collectives" page. |
| STORY
TELLERS |
A FABLE
of story tellers.
Krysia
Jones |
| STUDENTS |
A MESS
of students.
Alex Oldham A
PANDEMONIUM of students. Diane
Campbell |
| SUPPORT
ENGINEERS |
A SLUMBER
of support engineers.
Keith
Tomlin |
| TAX
PAYERS |
A SCREAM
of tax payers.
Tom
Moores and Pat Carter |
| TEACHERS |
A
BOOK, CLASS, FINAL, QUIZ,
TEST, GRADING, REPORT, TEXT, SUFFERING
of teachers
R.
Zimmerman
A SADOMASOCHIST
of teachers.
Mr.
Courtright |
| TECHNICIANS |
A MENSA
of technicians.
Eloise
Parrack |
| TEDDY BEARS |
A HUG of teddy bears (O.K. this might be a
wind up - but it was too nice to ignore)
Thanks to Jeff Burke |
| THERAPISTS |
A WORRY
of therapists.
John-Luke
Edwards PhD |
| TOADS |
A DICAPRIO
of toads.
Contributed
by Lee (on behalf of her boyfriend) |
| TOOLS |
A GRIP
of tools.
Krysia
Jones |
| TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS |
An ISLAND
of traffic controllers.
John Barron |
| TRAFFIC
WARDENS |
An AGGRAVATION
of traffic wardens.
Stan
Saunders. |
| TREASURE
HUNTERS |
A CACHE
of treasure hunters.
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| TWO-YEAR
OLDS |
A
TANTRUM
of two-year olds.
Sheila May
Lee.
A TERROR
of two-year-olds.
Max Levin
(derived from the expression "The Terrible
Twos.")
|
| UNICORNS |
A FANTASY
of unicorns.
Natalie
Stevens
A BLESSING
of unicorns.
Submitted by Jayne Collins. |
| VIPERS |
A DEN
of vipers.
Robert D.
Cunningham |
| WELDERS |
A FLAME
of welders.
AN ARC
of welders.
A TORCH
of welders.
Mark
MacLean |
| WELSH |
A FLOCK
of Welsh.
Michael
Hughes |
| WINDOW
CLEANERS |
A SEEING
of window cleaners
Ezz Bish A
SMUDGE of window cleaners. Bob
Budesa |
| WOMEN |
A
GOSSIP of
women.
Alan Jameson. A
WONDERMENT of women. Krysia
Jones |
| WRITERS |
A PEN
of writers.
Kerry Parke
A
PRINT of writers.
Tom
Moores and Pat Carter |
Consider Southern kitchen terms:
A MESS of turnip
greens (or any garden crop) as a measure of how much to cook;
A SLEW
of almost anything, but It seems to fit fish,
considering "slough" is a slow-moving stream in vernacular: So, a slew (or slough) of fish. But it is a mess of
fish for dinner.
Harold Daughety
I AM SURE YOU CAN THINK OF SOME MORE TO ADD TO THIS!
Email them to me at
june@hintsandthings.com
Poem
featuring more fictitious collectives.
|
