Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of creating something by mixing various ingredients: This refers to the preparation of medicines, drinks, soups, or other mixtures.
   • A story, excuse, or plan that is invented or fabricated: This refers to something devised to suit a purpose, often implying it is not true or is overly elaborate.
   • The result of mixing; a mixture or combination, especially an unusual or inventive one: This refers to the final product created by blending different components.

Examples of Usage

• Referring to a mixed substance:
  • The bartender served a strange blue concoction in a martini glass.
  • Her grandmother's cough syrup was a herbal concoction of honey, ginger, and lemon.
• Referring to a fabricated story or plan:
  • His alibi was a ridiculous concoction that no one believed.
  • The plot of the novel is an elaborate concoction of romance and spy thriller elements.

Advanced Usage

• "A concoction of lies": A series of statements that are completely fabricated.
  • The politician's speech was dismissed as a concoction of lies by the opposition.
• "To be one's own concoction": To be something one has invented or created oneself.
  • The recipe isn't from a book; it's my own concoction.

Variants and Related Words

• Concoct (verb): To invent or fabricate (a story, plan); to make by combining ingredients.
  • He concocted an elaborate excuse for being late.
  • She concocted a delicious stew from leftovers.
• Concocter (noun): A person who concocts something.

Synonyms

• Mixture: A substance made by mixing other substances together.
• Brew: A drink made by mixing, steeping, or brewing (often implies a liquid).
• Fabrication: Something invented or fabricated, especially a lie or false story.
• Conception: The forming of an idea or plan.

Related Phrases

• Whip up a concoction: To quickly make or invent something, especially food or a drink.
  • Give me five minutes and I'll whip up a concoction for dinner.
• A witch's concoction: A humorous or derogatory term for a strange or unappealing mixture.
  • The green smoothie looked like a witch's concoction but tasted great.

Related Idioms

• A curious concoction: An unusual or intriguing mixture.
  • The artist's latest sculpture is a curious concoction of metal and glass.

Noun

1. the act of creating something (a medicine or drink or soup etc.) by compounding or mixing a variety of components
2. the invention of a scheme or story to suit some purpose
   • his testimony was a concoction
   • she has no peer in the concoction of mystery stories
3. an occurrence of an unusual mixture
   • it suddenly spewed out a thick green concoction
4. any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients
   • he volunteered to taste her latest concoction
   • he drank a mixture of beer and lemonade