littered with examples
Meaning
This phrase describes a situation or text where there is an overwhelming number of instances or illustrations of a particular point, often suggesting a lack of organization or an excessive quantity.
Origin
The word "litter" itself has a history rooted in the Old French "litiere," meaning a bed or stretcher, often one strewn with straw or bedding for animals. This sense quickly evolved to describe a disorderly scattering, like discarded rubbish or a general mess. By the 19th century, "littered" began its journey into metaphor, describing a surface or space covered with an excessive, often untidy, quantity of something. Extending this vivid imagery to abstract concepts like "examples" was a natural leap. Just as a park might be physically littered with discarded papers, an argument or text can be "littered with examples," indicating an overwhelming and perhaps even disorganized abundance of illustrative instances, making a point clear through sheer volume, whether for good or ill.
Examples
- The professor's lecture on quantum physics was so complex that his notes were littered with examples to clarify each concept.
- Reviewing the company's financial records, the audit team found the report littered with examples of poor spending choices.