hodgepodge

/ˈhɒdʒpɒdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːdʒpɑːdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhäj-ˌpäj/ (ame, mw)

hodgepodge — noun

  • hodgepodgesingular
  • hodgepodgesplural

1. a group of many different things that are combined without any clear plan or sys

1.名詞B2
釋義

a group of many different things that are combined without any clear plan or system, often in a way that seems untidy or strange

例句

Guo's bookshelf held a hodgepodge of novels, cookbooks, and old photo albums.

collocation: a hodgepodge of [various items]

The museum's new exhibit brings together a hodgepodge of paintings from different periods and cultures.

同義詞
  • jumble

    more commonly used for physical objects in disorder; slightly less informal

  • mishmash

    similar register; often used for ideas, styles, or cultural influences

  • assortment

    more neutral; does not carry the sense of messiness or randomness

  • medley

    usually for songs, food, or colours; more positive in tone

反義詞
  • order

    a hodgepodge lacks organization; order is the opposite quality

  • system

    a system implies careful arrangement, the opposite of hodgepodge

文法句型

a hodgepodge of + plural noun

用法筆記

Common in descriptions of disorganized collections. Can apply to physical items, ideas, artistic styles, or even groups of people. Slightly more informal than 'mixture' or 'assortment'.

常見錯誤

❌The salad was a hodgepodge of lettuce and tomatoes.
✅The salad was a simple mix of lettuce and tomatoes.
💡'hodgepodge' implies a strange or messy combination, not just any mixture of two ordinary things.
❌I have a hodgepodge of work to do.
✅I have a hodgepodge of unrelated tasks on my desk.
💡works best when the items are clearly different from one another, not just multiple items of the same type.