A murder of crows.
A pride of lions.
A gaggle of geese.
All great ways of describing a group of animals.
I recently heard a new one I liked a lot:
A gossip about women.
A little sexist, I know, but there’s research to suggest that women who gossip are happier and healthier than their more discreet counterparts, so the descriptor is not entirely unfounded.
But it’s great. Right?
I feel awful because I can’t remember where I read it (Stephen King’s Insomnia, Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, or a short story from The New Yorker, perhaps), but I simply adore this turn of phrase. It made me instantly laugh, but more importantly, it conveyed a clear image of what this group of women looked and acted like at that specific moment.
I’ve been trying to come up with an equally good descriptor for any other group of people today to no avail.
A gamble of poker players?
A concern of mothers?
A fumble of left-handers?
All not very good, I know. But I’ll keep thinking.
Does anyone else have an idea?
