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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.

PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE NOT AUTHENTICATED COLLECTIVE NOUNS

Collective nouns more likely be authentic.

 
ACADEMICS A DEBATE of academics.

A BEFUDDLEMENT of academics.

Alex Oldham

ACCOUNTANTS An ADEQUACY of Accountants

An ALCHEMY of Accountants

Krysia Jones

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS A VECTOR, PATTERN or SEQUENCE of Air Traffic Controllers

Isaac Linkletter

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

ANAESTHETISTS A SLEEP of anaesthetists.

Peter Young

ANGELS An ASCENDANCE of angels.

Amy Black

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

ARCHITECTS A CARBUNCLE of architects.

Patricia Ellistone

ARTISTS A PALETTE of artists.

Gayle Bell

BABIES A SWEETNESS of babies.

Steve Henwood & Felicia Uriarte

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.

 

BACTERIOLOGISTS A COLONY of bacteriologists.

Dani Byrne

BAD ACTORS A KEANU of bad actors.

Matt Presson

BANK EXECUTIVES/BANKERS A GREED of bank executives (bankers).

Patricia Ellistone

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

COLLOID CHEMISTS A COAGULATION of colloid chemists.

Dani Byrne

COMEDIANS A CHUCKLE, CHORTLE, CACKLE or QUIP of comedians.

Contributed by Ezz Bish

COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERS A LABYRINTH of communications engineers.

Dani Byrne

COMPOSERS A SCORE of composers.

George Dudley Warbeck

COMPUTERS A DRIVE of computers.

Greg Palmer

CONGRESSMEN A LYNCHMOB of congressmen.

A BRIBE of congressmen.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

COPPERHEADS A SCREAMING MEEMIE of copperheads.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

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

COSMOLOGISTS A GALAXY of cosmologists.

Dani Byrne

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.

A CACOPHONY of crows.                           Joe Lanteri

A GANG of crows.                                       Gill Lange

 

CURTAIN MAKERS A STITCH of curtain makers.

Roger Griffiths

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS AN ASSIST of customer service representatives.

Dani Byrne

DACHSUNDS A STRETCH, a MOXIE or a DEVILMENT of Dachsunds

Karen A. Jones

DECORATORS A SPLATTERING of decorators.

Ezz Bish

DEMONS A TERROR of demons.

Amy Black

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

A PICKLE of drunks.

Steve Henwood & Felicia Uriarte

DUNG BEETLES A ****LOAD of dung beetles  (asterisk for obvious reasons)    

Thanks Susan

EDITORS A CUT of editors.

A DISSOLVE of editors.

David Scott

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS A GRID of electrical engineers.

Dani Byrne

ELECTRICIANS A SHOCK or SHOCKING of electricians.

John Barron

A SPARK of electricians.

Brian Milligan

EMOTION AN EXCITEMENT of emotion. 

Krysia Jones

ENGINEERS A CONFUSION of engineers.

Richard Jarvis

ENGINES A PISTON of engines.

Bryan Solomons

E.O.D.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

A BLAST of E.O.D.

A CRAB of EOD techs 
(The EOD badge is referred to as a "crab" due to it's shape)

A CAST of EOD techs (A group of crabs is a "cast")

Hyrum Lebaron

ESTATE AGENTS AN EXAGGERATION of estate agents.

Roger Griffiths

FERMENTATION CHEMISTS A BATH of fermentation chemists.

Dani Byrne

FERRETS A THIEVE OF FERRETS

Danielle Jackson

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

GASTROENTEROLOGISTS A POLYP of gastroenterologists 

(Doctors who work with bowel diseases)

Donna Clare

GATORS A LUGGAGE of gators.

Garry Adrian

GENETICISTS A LITTER of geneticists.

Dani Byrne

GERMAN SHORT HAIRED POINTERS A SPAZ of German short haired pointers,

Christina Gonzales

GERMANS An ARMY of Germans.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

GIRL SCOUTS A SALES FORCE of girl scouts.

Michael Henderson

GIRLS A GIGGLE of girls.

Tig Dupre and Mike Gerry

 

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

HEMATOLOGISTS A CLOT of hematologists.

(Doctors who work with blood diseases)

Donna Clare

HIGH STEEL RIGGERS A FLIGHT of high steel riggers.

John Barron

HUNTERS (UNSUCCESSFUL) A GRUMBLE of unsuccessful hunters.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

HUNTERS (SUCCESSFUL) A BOAST of successful hunters.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

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, INCONSIDERATEIMMURE  of ISS

C. Leininger

A shameless of "ISS student collective" submitters. I mean, seriously...they're kids. A little fun is one thing, but there are way too many terms there, some of them quite horrible and judgemental. These kids are in ISS as a means of intervention in their behaviour patterns. We want them to succeed and to be better citizens...it's not about calling them worthless or evil to satisfy some inner psychological sadistic tendency. Come on, fellows, that's way out of line. Shouldn't politicians get more flack, at least?

Perhaps a "reform" of ISS... The collection on the site is simply cruel and unjust.

A REFORM of ISS students.

Matt Presson

ISS COLLECTIVE SUBMITTERS (above) A SHAMELESS of ISS collective submitters (above)

Matt Presson

INSURANCE AGENTS A DECLARATION  of insurance agents.

Dani Byrne

JAGUARS A PRESCOTT of jaguars.

Peter Taylor

JAPANESE A CLICK of Japanese

Michael Hughes

JAPANESE TOURISTS A FLASH of Japanese tourists.

Steve Henwood & Felicia Uriarte

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/LAYDBUGS A MOTHERS' MEETING of ladybirds.

Mark

A RASH of ladybirds.

Frazer Henderson

This maybe a true term but not authentication or popularity could be found during research.

LAWYERS A SUIT of lawyers.

Tig Dupre and Dani Byrne 

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

A STACK of librarians.

Dani Byrne

LIONS A CARPET of lions. 

The reason for this is while on a game drive on a hot sunny morning in Africa we came across a pride of lions consisting of 16 lions lying down in the bush. If we were walking we would have stepped on this ‘carpet of lions’ blending in with the dry grass in which they were laying. 

George Archibald

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

METALLURGISTS AN AMALGAMATION of metallurgists.

Dani Byrne

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

NASCAR FANS A DIN of Nascar fans.

Greg Palmer

NAUTICAL ENGINEERS A KNOT of nautical engineers.

Dani Byrne

NEWSPAPERMEN A HEADLINE of newspapermen.

Bob Beecher

NUCLEAR PHYSICISTS A PILE of nuclear physicists.

Dani Byrne

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
ORNITHOLOGISTS A WING of ornithologists.

Dani Byrne

PAINTERS A PALETTE of painters.

Jerry Miakush

PARENTS A FRAZZLE of parents of more than 2 adolescents of any gender.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

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.

A WEEBLE of penguins.

Scott E. Frias

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

PLASTIC SURGEONS A REJUVENATION of plastic surgeons.

Donna Clare.

PLEBOTOMISTS A HAEMORRHAGE of plebotomists 

(people who collect blood or do blood-letting)

Donna Clare

PLUMBERS A TANK of plumbers.

Brian Milligan

POETS A RHYME of poets.

Kerry Parke

POKER PLAYERS A DRAW of poker players.

Jinxy

POLICEMEN A PAIN of policemen.                                   Gine Wells.

A POSSE of policemen.                              Alan Jameson

An ARREST of policemen.                               Tig Dupre

POLITICIANS An EXPENSE or CHAOS of politicians.              

 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

 Paolo Fanutza.

PSYCHOLOGISTS A COMPLEX of psychologists.

Dani Byrne

PURE MATHEMATICIANS A SET of pure mathematicians.

Dani Byrne

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.      

 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.

RED HEADS  A TROUBLE or BLAZE of Red Heads.

Isaac Linkletter

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

SAILORS A KNOT of sailors (in Port)

A MUTINY of sailors (at sea)

J.Rietveld

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

SEAMSTRESSES A STITCH of seamstresses.

Dani Byrne

SEARCH ENGINES A TRAWL of search engines.

Ezz Bish

SHEEP A GAMBOL of sheep.

Ezz Bish

SHREWS A GOSSIP of shrews.

 Sheila Lee.

SMART CARS A SMUG of smart cars.

 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

SPECTROSCOPISTS A LINE of spectroscopists.

Dani Byrne

SPELLING ERRORS A PROFUSHUN of spelling errors.

Matt Presson

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

SURVEYORS An ARGUMENT or SQUABBLE of Quantity Surveyors.

Brian Milligan

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) 

                                                                 Jeff Burke

TELEPHONISTS A RING of telephonists.

Greg Palmer

 

TERRORISTS An EXPLOSION of terrorists.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

THEORETICAL METEOROLOGISTS A CLOUD of theoretical meteorologists.

Dani Byrne

THEORETICAL PHYSICISTS A FIELD of theoretical physicists.

Dani Byrne

THERAPISTS A WORRY of therapists.

John-Luke Edwards PhD

TOADS A DICAPRIO of toads.

 Lee (on behalf of her boyfriend)

TOOLS A GRIP of tools.

Krysia Jones

TORTOISES A CLUSTER of tortoises.

A ROCKERY of tortoises.

Devina Shah

These maybe authentic terms as opposed to fictitious but no confirmation could be found.

TOURISTS An AGAPE of tourists.

Sean V Corinth

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

TRUCKERS A STINK of truckers.

Edward Smith

(I am one, so I know that it's generally the case.)

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.                      

 Jayne Collins.

VAMPIRES A BYTE of vampires
A SUDDEN of vampires
A NECK of vampires
A FLICKER of vampires
A TIDE of vampires
A PULSE of vampires
A SATURATION of vampires
A SLAVER of vampires
A LAP of vampires
A PIERCE of vampires

Ashleen O'Gaea

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  


 

Jennii Ramirez wrote saying -

Are you aware that there is a book which lists "nouns of multitude?" It's title is "An Exaltation of Larks."

 

 

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.

 

 

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