Meaning & use
culture vultures
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“culture vultures” is a form of “culture vulture”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralinformalhumorous
People who are very keen on the arts, such as museums, galleries and theater, and go to a lot of events.
Grammar: Plural of culture vulture; the singular is used for one person.
Patterns
- culture vultures flock to something
Culture vultures filled the gallery on opening night.
The festival attracts culture vultures from all over the country.
My parents are real culture vultures and never miss an exhibition.
nounpluraldisapproving
Visitors who tick off famous art and sights without much real interest, used in a mildly critical way.
Grammar: Often carries a hint of criticism when used by locals.
Locals complain that culture vultures crowd the old town every summer.
The critic said opening night was full of culture vultures rather than true fans.
A tour group of culture vultures rushed through the museum in an hour.
Word forms
| singular | culture vulture |
|---|
Common combinations
- a bunch of culture vultures
- A bunch of culture vultures queued outside the opera house.
- avid culture vultures
- We are avid culture vultures when we travel.
- culture vultures flock
- Culture vultures flock to the city each autumn.
- a haven for culture vultures
- The city is a haven for culture vultures.
Synonyms and how they differ
- art lovers
- Art lovers is neutral and respectful, while culture vultures is playful and can sound mocking.
- highbrows
- Highbrows stresses an intellectual taste and can sound snobbish, while culture vultures stresses the hunger to attend cultural events.
- culture buffs
- Culture buffs is milder and more admiring, while culture vultures hints at overdoing it.
- aesthetes
- Aesthetes is more formal and suggests a refined love of beauty, not going to events.
Opposites
Word family
- culture noun
- arts, customs and beliefs of a society
- cultural adjective
- relating to culture
- vulture noun
- a large bird that feeds on dead animals
- culture vulture noun
- singular form
Commonly confused: culture vultures or cultured?
culture vultures vs cultured
Cultured describes a refined, well-educated person, while culture vultures describes people who eagerly seek cultural events.
Practice
Tourists who spend every day visiting museums and galleries might jokingly be called ____.
Choose one answer.
Culture vultures are enthusiasts of the arts and museums. The other terms describe people who laze around, sunbathe or shop.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “culture vultures”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.