Meaning & use
humps and bumps
Last updated
Meanings
phraseplural
Small raised areas or uneven places on a surface, especially a road or the skin.
Grammar: Always plural and usually takes a plural verb: 'The humps and bumps were annoying.'
Patterns
- the humps and bumps on something
- humps and bumps in something
The old road is full of humps and bumps, so drive slowly.
The cream is supposed to smooth out the humps and bumps on your skin.
After the earthquake, there were humps and bumps all over the field.
phrasepluralfigurative
Small problems, difficulties, or changes that happen during a process.
Grammar: Used figuratively for troubles or changes; often with 'through' or 'over'.
Patterns
- go through humps and bumps
- get over the humps and bumps
Every new business goes through its humps and bumps in the first year.
We had a few humps and bumps in our relationship, but we worked things out.
The project had its humps and bumps, but we finished on time.
Common combinations
- full of humps and bumps
- The path was full of humps and bumps.
- a few humps and bumps
- We hit a few humps and bumps along the way.
- smooth out the humps and bumps
- They used a machine to smooth out the humps and bumps in the road.
- the humps and bumps of life
- She learned to accept the humps and bumps of life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bumps
- Simpler and more common; 'bumps' alone can mean the same thing, but 'humps and bumps' adds a stronger, more informal rhythm.
- lumps
- Usually for solid pieces or swellings, not for road surfaces; 'humps and bumps' is better for uneven ground or skin.
- ups and downs
- Used for good and bad times in life; 'humps and bumps' is more about small troubles or uneven surfaces.
Opposites
Commonly confused: humps and bumps or hump? humps and bumps or bump?
humps and bumps vs hump
A single large raised part, especially on a camel or a road; 'humps and bumps' is a fixed plural phrase for many small uneven spots.
humps and bumps vs bump
One raised spot or a light hit; the phrase 'humps and bumps' uses both words together and is not interchangeable with the single words.
Practice
The mountain road was rough, with ______ all the way up.
Choose one answer.
'Humps and bumps' is a fixed plural phrase, so it fits after 'with' to describe many uneven spots. 'Hump and bump' is singular and not idiomatic, and 'a humps and bumps' is ungrammatical because the phrase is plural and takes no article.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “humps and bumps”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.