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Glite Dictionary
one hundred and one

one hundred and one

1 1.0
A phrase that means many rather than exactly 101
  • numeral
  • /wʌn ˈhʌndrəd ənd wʌn/
translation icon : cien uno
  • There are one hundred and one reasons to be excited about the new project.

Examples

  • There are one hundred and one reasons to love this city!

  • The conference had attendees from one hundred and one different countries.

  • His explanation included one hundred and one excuses for being late.

  • She had one hundred and one things to do before noon.

  • There are one hundred and one reasons to visit this city.

  • I have one hundred and one ideas for the project.

  • She received more than one hundred and one letters of support for her campaign.

Synonyms

large number
vsone hundred and one
158 1.4

Many people or things counted together

means a very large quantity stronger in size emphasis
zillion
vsone hundred and one
  • Informal
8 5.6

A very large number that people use to show a lot

indicates a very large amount without extreme emphatic tone
dozens
vsone hundred and one
1 1.0

A large number, usually more than twelve

means a much larger and less specific amount than that expression

Antonyms

few
∞ 1.0

A small number of people or things

limited
393 2.5

Available only in small amounts or to a few people

How Many

countless
245 2.5
one hundred and one
1 1.0
many
9 1.0
several
∞ 1.0
a few
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

one hundred and one cardinal word
101 cardinal digit

Morphology

one + hundred + and + one

Composing 'one' + 'hundred' + 'and' + 'one' yields the literal numeric value 101, so the constituents give a clear literal reading. However, the MWE's attested meaning 'many' is a conventional hyperbolic extension of that numeral rather than a directly predictable compositional meaning, and learners who only know the parts are unlikely to reliably infer the figurative sense without exposure.

Etymology

One hundred and one may come from the simple picture of a very long list with one hundred things plus one more, which makes the total feel open and endless. That's why it is used to mean 'a very large number' or 'many'.