"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
Showing posts with label ructions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ructions. Show all posts

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Ructions

 

Ructions is a plural noun (informal) and means a scrap, a fracas, a disturbance or fuss.   It is often used as a means of threatening dire consequences if someone misbehaves...   If you don't do as you're told this moment there'll be ructions.

According to the dictionary it can also be seen as a singular noun, ruction, meaning an uproar; a noisy or quarrelsome disturbance. I'm not sure that I can recall ever hearing it used in the singular.