Meaning & use
stocking stuffers
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Meanings
nounplural
Small, inexpensive presents that are put into a Christmas stocking for someone to find on Christmas morning.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; if you mean one item, say 'a stocking stuffer' (mainly American).
Patterns
- buy stocking stuffers for someone
- fill a stocking with stocking stuffers
- a good stocking stuffer
My mother always buys stocking stuffers like lip balm and chocolate coins for us.
He spent about twenty dollars on stocking stuffers for his little sister.
The shop sells cheap toys and gadgets that make perfect stocking stuffers.
nounpluralfigurative
A small item of little value that is added to a larger gift or purchase to make it seem more generous.
Grammar: Often used figuratively when the extra items are not really wanted.
Patterns
- throw in something as a stocking stuffer
- little more than stocking stuffers
The free keychain was just a stocking stuffer thrown in with the phone.
Critics said the tax cut was a stocking stuffer compared with the money the plan took away.
Word forms
| singular | stocking stuffer |
|---|
Common combinations
- Christmas stocking stuffers
- The children hung up their stockings and hoped for good Christmas stocking stuffers.
- cheap stocking stuffers
- We looked for cheap stocking stuffers that would still make the kids smile.
- stocking stuffers for kids
- Crayons and stickers are classic stocking stuffers for kids.
- fill a stocking with stocking stuffers
- On Christmas Eve she filled a stocking with stocking stuffers and hung it by the fire.
- a list of stocking stuffers
- I made a list of stocking stuffers so I would not forget anything.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stocking fillers
- The usual British term for the same small gifts; 'stocking stuffers' sounds American.
- small gifts
- A plain, general phrase that fits any occasion, not only Christmas stockings.
- novelties
- Refers to small amusing objects; it stresses their playful nature rather than their use as gifts.
Word family
Commonly confused: stocking stuffers or stocking caps?
stocking stuffers vs stocking caps
These are close-fitting winter hats, not small Christmas presents, even though the words sound similar.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'stocking stuffers' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Stocking stuffers' is a plural noun, so it takes a plural verb and no article, and the example lists typical small gifts. Option 1 wrongly puts 'a' before a plural, option 2 uses 'stuffers' as a verb, and option 3 leaves out the plural -s, which is needed because the noun is plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stocking stuffers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.