2
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with MANY, Also see AS MANY; GOOD (GREAT) MANY; IN SO MANY WORDS; IRONS IN THE FIRE, TOO MANY; SO MANY; TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.
American Heritage Idioms
3
general::
many
a large number of people or things – used in everyday English in questions and negative sentences, and after ‘too’ and ‘so’. In formal or written English, you can also use it in other sentences:
• There weren’t many people at the meeting. • Did you get many birthday presents? • Many people voted against the proposal.
a lot
many. A lot is less formal than many and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
• A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer. • The club has a lot more members now.
dozens/hundreds/thousands/millions
many – used when you cannot be exact but the number is two dozen or more, two hundred or more etc:
• At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion. • They’ve wasted thousands of pounds on the project.
a large number of
written a lot of a particular type of person or thing:
• China plans to build a large number of nuclear power plants.
numerous
formal many – used especially when saying that something has happened many times:
• We’ve contacted him on numerous occasions. • Numerous studies have shown a link between smoking and lung cancer.
countless/innumerable
[ only before noun ] many – used when it is impossible to count or imagine how many. Innumerable is more formal than countless:
• He spent countless hours in the gym. • They had been given innumerable warnings.
a host of
many – used especially when something seems surprising or impressive:
• Age is the biggest risk factor in a host of diseases. • People leave jobs for a whole host of reasons.
a raft of
many – used especially when talking about ideas, suggestions, changes in business or politics:
• The report made a raft of recommendations. • The new government is planning a whole raft of changes.
quite a few
especially spoken a fairly large number of people or things:
• We’ve had quite a few problems with the software. • I’ve met quite a few of his friends.
lots
informal many:
• I’ve invited lots of people. • ‘How many cats has she got?’ ‘Lots!’
tons/loads
informal many – a very informal use:
• I’ve got tons of books. • Have a strawberry – there are loads here.
Longman-Thesaurus