masher

/'mæʃə/

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The word "masher" can have two main meanings in English, and I'll explain both of them clearly.

Meaning 1: Kitchen Utensil

Definition: A "masher" is a kitchen tool that you use to crush or mash food, especially potatoes.

Meaning 2: Man with Aggressive Romantic Advances

Definition: A "masher" can also refer to a man who tries very hard to flirt with women in a way that can be seen as overly aggressive or inappropriate.

Advanced Usage:

• In Cooking: You can also use the term "potato masher" specifically when referring to the utensil used for mashing potatoes.
• In Social Contexts: The term "masher" can also appear in discussions about dating and social behavior, often in a historical context, as it was more commonly used in the early 20th century.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "masher," but related terms include "mash" (the verb form) and "mashing" (the gerund form).

Different Meanings:

• The first meaning relates to cooking, while the second meaning relates to social behavior, particularly in romantic contexts.

Synonyms:

• For the kitchen utensil: "potato masher," "mashing tool."
• For the aggressive man: "flirt," "ladies' man," "smooth talker" (though these may not carry the same negative connotation).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "masher." However, you might hear phrases like "mash it up" in cooking contexts, which means to mix or crush food together.

Summary:

So, "masher" can refer to either a useful kitchen tool for making foods like mashed potatoes or a man who makes uncomfortable romantic advances.

Academic

Noun

1. a kitchen utensil used for mashing (e.g. potatoes)
2. a man who is aggressive in making amorous advances to women

Synonyms

• wolf
• woman chaser
• skirt chaser