christmas cake
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A rich, dense cake containing dried or candied fruit, nuts, and spices, traditionally prepared and eaten during the Christmas season. It is often covered with a layer of marzipan (almond paste) and a hard white icing.
Usage
"Christmas cake" refers specifically to the festive cake itself. It is used as a countable noun.
Examples
- We baked the Christmas cake in November so it would have time to mature.
- Would you like a slice of Christmas cake with your tea?
- Her Christmas cake is famous for its delicious marzipan layer.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes be used metaphorically in British slang to refer to something that is considered past its prime or no longer fresh, drawing a humorous comparison to the long-kept cake. This usage is informal and often considered dated or offensive.
- He joked that he was feeling like a bit of old Christmas cake after the holidays.
Variants and Related Words
- Fruitcake: A more general term for a cake containing fruit and nuts. Not all fruitcakes are Christmas cakes, but all traditional Christmas cakes are a type of fruitcake.
- Icing: The sweet, often hard sugar coating on top of the cake.
- Marzipan: A sweet paste made from ground almonds and sugar, typically layered between the cake and the icing.
- Panettone: An Italian sweet bread loaf enjoyed at Christmas, which is a different type of festive baked good.
Synonyms
- Fruitcake (in the specific context of Christmas)
- Holiday cake
Related Idioms or Phrases
- "As rich as a Christmas cake": An informal simile describing something that is very rich in flavor, texture, or figuratively, in wealth or detail.
- The novel's plot was as rich as a Christmas cake.
Noun
- a rich fruitcake (usually covered with icing and marzipan) and eaten at Christmas