Meaning & use
burning brands
Last updated
Meanings
phrasepluralliterary
Pieces of wood that are on fire, especially when carried by people as weapons, threats, or signals.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase; it takes a plural verb, as in 'The burning brands were thrown over the wall.'
Patterns
- carry burning brands
- throw burning brands
- burning brands in someone's hand
The crowd marched through the streets carrying burning brands.
In the old story, the attackers hurled burning brands over the castle wall.
She read a description of villagers with burning brands setting fire to the fields.
phrasepluralliterary
People or groups that carry lit torches, especially in a violent or threatening scene.
Grammar: Refers to the people themselves, so it behaves like a plural noun and can follow words like 'a mob of'.
Patterns
- a mob of burning brands
- the burning brands advanced
- be met by burning brands
A mob of burning brands gathered outside the gates.
The burning brands moved slowly toward the house.
He described the burning brands as an angry crowd with torches.
Common combinations
- carry burning brands
- The protesters carried burning brands through the dark square.
- throw burning brands
- The soldiers began to throw burning brands at the wooden bridge.
- a torch or burning brand
- Each marcher held a torch or burning brand above his head.
- the light of burning brands
- The light of burning brands lit up the whole courtyard.
Synonyms and how they differ
- torches
- The everyday word for hand-held lights; 'torches' is neutral, while 'burning brands' sounds old or literary.
- firebrands
- Can mean a burning piece of wood, but it more often describes a person who stirs up trouble.
Word family
Commonly confused: burning brands or brand?
burning brands vs brand
On its own, 'brand' usually means a company's product name; only in old or literary texts does it mean a burning piece of wood.
Practice
In the old poem, the villagers marched with burning brands. What were they carrying?
Choose one answer.
'Burning brands' in literary texts means pieces of wood that are on fire. 'Company logos' fits the modern business meaning of 'brand', which does not suit this old scene.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “burning brands”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.