basket dinner

basket dinner

A family enjoys a basket dinner at the park.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A meal taken on an outdoor excursion: "basket dinner" refers to a meal, typically packed in a basket, that is brought and shared during a picnic, camping trip, or other outdoor gathering, especially in American English.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • We packed a basket dinner for our hike in the mountains. (A meal brought in a basket for an outdoor trip.)
    • The church picnic featured a basket dinner where everyone contributed a dish. (A shared meal at an outdoor social event.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to have a basket dinner": to participate in a meal where food is brought in baskets and shared.

    • The family decided to have a basket dinner at the lake. (They brought a packed meal to enjoy outdoors.)
  • "basket dinner social": a community event centered around such a meal.

    • The town held a basket dinner social to raise funds for the park. (An outdoor communal meal event.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Basket lunch (n): a similar meal packed for lunchtime, often used interchangeably with "basket dinner."

    • She prepared a basket lunch for the afternoon picnic. (A packed lunch in a basket.)
  • Picnic (n): an outdoor meal, often synonymous but broader in scope.

    • They enjoyed a picnic in the meadow. (An outdoor meal, not necessarily in a basket.)
Synonyms
  • Picnic meal: a meal eaten outdoors, typically on a blanket or table.
  • Packed lunch: a meal prepared and carried in a container for eating away from home.
Related Idioms
  • "Basket case": (idiom, unrelated) a person who is extremely anxious or unstable; not directly related to "basket dinner."

    • After the exam, he was a basket case. (He was very stressed.)
  • "Put all your eggs in one basket": (idiom, unrelated) to risk everything on a single venture.

    • Don't put all your eggs in one basket by investing only in one stock. (Avoid concentrating all resources.)

Note: "Basket dinner" is a specific compound noun primarily used in American English contexts involving outdoor, communal dining. It does not have common phrasal verbs or extensive idiomatic usage beyond its literal meaning.