pieces of string

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Several short lengths of thin cord, often left over or cut for use.

   Grammar: Plural of piece of string; the unit word piece carries the plural, so you say pieces of string, not strings of piece.

   Patterns

   • pieces of string
   • tie something with pieces of string
   • cut something into pieces of string

   There were pieces of string all over the floor after we opened the parcel.

   She saved the pieces of string in a drawer instead of throwing them away.

   The children tied the boxes together with pieces of string.

2. 2nounplural

   Small separate sections of string used for a game, craft, or practical task.

   Grammar: Often followed by for or to show purpose: pieces of string for the puppet.

   Patterns

   • pieces of string for something
   • use pieces of string to do something

   We need a few pieces of string to finish the kite.

   He used pieces of string to mark each plant in the garden.

Word forms

Common combinations

a few pieces of string

A few pieces of string were tangled in the drawer.

tie something with pieces of string

They tied the parcels with pieces of string.

short pieces of string

Cut the short pieces of string and hand them out.

save pieces of string

My grandmother always saved pieces of string.

a bundle of pieces of string

He kept a bundle of pieces of string in his toolbox.

Synonyms and how they differ

bits of string

More informal and suggests smaller, messier scraps than pieces of string.

lengths of string

Emphasizes the measured length of each section rather than just that they are separate.

scraps of string

Stresses that the pieces are leftover and probably too short to be useful.

Word family

string noun

The thin cord itself, from which pieces are cut.

stringy adjective

Full of thin threads or tough fibers, like string.

Commonly confused: pieces of string or pieces of sting? pieces of string or strings?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pieces of string”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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