Team vs You're a pack of hounds

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Team

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun

You're a pack of hounds

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: TeamMost common: Team
 TeamYou're a pack of hounds
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/tiːm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tiːm/"]/🇬🇧 //jʊəre ə pæk ʌv haʊndz//🇺🇸 //jʊr ə pæk əv haʊndz//
MeaningA group of people working together.You're a group of eager and competitive people.
ExampleOur team won the championship this year.When they all started shouting for the win, I thought, 'You're a pack of hounds!'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationshome, hometown, away, field, have, choose, enter, get into, make it into, game, sport, captain, in a/​the team, on a/​the team, team for, joint, five-strong, husband-and-wife, assemble, build, form, comprise somebody, consist of somebody, develop something, leader, member, player, in a/​the team, on a/​the team, team of, a member of a team, part of a teampack of wolves, chase a goal, hounds of competition, run in packs
Antonymsindividual, loner-
Common mistakesConfused with 'group' when a more specific meaning is needed., Saying 'team' as a singular verb form, e.g., 'the team are winning' instead of 'the team is winning'.Confusing it with 'pack of dogs', which is a literal meaning., Using it in overly serious situations, where humor is inappropriate., Misunderstanding it as an insult rather than a playful comment.
Usage notesUsed in both professional and casual contexts. Appropriate in discussions about sports, work projects, and collaborative efforts. Avoid using in contexts that refer to individuals instead of groups.This phrase is often used jokingly or sarcastically to refer to a group of people pursuing something with enthusiasm or aggressiveness. It's not suitable for formal contexts.

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Team
You're a pack of hounds

Frequently asked questions: Team vs You're a pack of hounds

What's the difference between Team and You're a pack of hounds?

Team: A group of people working together. You're a pack of hounds: You're a group of eager and competitive people.

Which is more formal: Team and You're a pack of hounds?

Team is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Team and You're a pack of hounds?

Team is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Team: Our team won the championship this year. You're a pack of hounds: When they all started shouting for the win, I thought, 'You're a pack of hounds!'

Can I use Team and You're a pack of hounds interchangeably?

Not always. Team and You're a pack of hounds are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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