a mob vs the mob

Both 'a mob' and 'the mob' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'A mob' refers to any group of people, while 'the mob' specifically refers to a criminal organization or group of people involved in illegal activities.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 848 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"a mob"

Use 'a mob' when referring to any group of people, especially in a disorderly or unruly way.

Examples:

A mob of protesters gathered outside the government building.
The angry mob stormed the gates of the palace.
The mob of fans rushed towards the stage after the concert.
The mob of students blocked the entrance to the school in protest.
A mob of reporters surrounded the celebrity as she left the event.

Show examples from the web [+]

Early Saturday morning, a mob of approximately 200 Muslims looted and torched eight Christian homes in Awlad Khalaf, Egypt.
Mr. Hotenhoffer, there's a mob outside.
I run some slots down in West Bend for a mob here.
Well, somehow, don't ask me how, he's got connected with a mob.
He was attacked by a mob outside the Bram...
Unless we see a mob of big reds.
Judge, quite a mob of miners down at the jail.
We don't need a mob out there.
More than a mob, the entire town.
Get me something, 'cause right now all we have is a mob scene.
Three days earlier, a mob lynched a death-metal fan who they thought was the Crucifix Killer.
But during supper, a mob came to demand that the host hand over his male guest.
There's a mob of reporters and photographers out there.
To join a mob 100,000 strong?
Within a couple of months, it was a mob scene.
Thought you should know that you got a mob of Germans out there dragging them McGinnes boys into the slaughterhouse.
There is a mob out there.
A teahouse is like a mob front in Jersey.
But even though the police were present, the veterans said a mob was on its way and that there would be violence if we weren't gone in three.
Chief, we got a mob scene in the clinic of people looking for missing family members and nothing but a 2-hour-old list of patients.

Alternatives:

a crowd
a group of people
a throng
a horde
a pack

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"the mob"

Use 'the mob' when referring to a specific criminal organization or group of people involved in illegal activities.

Examples:

The mob boss ordered a hit on his rival.
The police are cracking down on the mob's illegal activities.
The mob controls the drug trade in the city.
The mobsters met in a secret location to plan their next heist.
The mob's influence extends to many businesses in the area.

Show examples from the web [+]

Tells me it was the mob, snipping off fingerprints.
Blanchard said to keep it to ourselves because the mob was involved.
Mr. Adelson was recently assaulted After coap's creep tweets riled up the mob.
He knows too well how to manipulate the mob.
Actually, it goes to the mob.
(Richard Hammer) Luciano felt that Genovese had brought disrepute to the mob.
Who had to pair up with the mob.
And the mob out there, looking for him.
And it probably has some of Chandler's evidence against the mob.
Castro gets to hit the mob hard and make a couple million.
Your father is in with the mob.
Our corporation doesn't have any ties to the mob.
Now I know why the mob wants to kill that guy.
Dumpler Humphry worked for the mob.
We find him, we decapitate the mob in Los Angeles.
They must've whipped up the mob because of your change in plans.
These men were terrified, as the mob attacked our vehicle.
- And the mob is right.
No matter what he did, the mob was the criminal.
Looks like he works for the mob now.

Alternatives:

the criminal organization
the underworld
the mafia
the gang
the syndicate

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a mob vs the mob

"a mob"

"the mob"

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