meat cleaver
Definition
Noun: A heavy, broad-bladed knife, typically with a rectangular blade, designed specifically for chopping through meat and bone.
Usage
The term "meat cleaver" refers to the specific kitchen tool. It is used as a countable noun. * A chef uses a meat cleaver to separate ribs. * The butcher sharpened his meat cleaver. * Be careful with that meat cleaver; its blade is very sharp.
Advanced Usage
- Metaphorical Use: Can be used to describe something that divides or cuts through with decisive force.
- The new policy was a meat cleaver approach to budget cuts, eliminating entire departments.
Variants and Related Words
- Cleaver (n.): A more general term for the same tool. "Meat cleaver" is often used interchangeably with "cleaver," though "cleaver" can sometimes refer to similar tools for other purposes.
- Butcher's knife (n.): A broader category of knives used in butchery; a meat cleaver is one type of butcher's knife.
Synonyms
- Chopper
- Butcher's cleaver
Related Phrases/Idioms
- To take a cleaver to (something): To make severe, indiscriminate cuts or reductions.
- The editor took a cleaver to the manuscript, removing whole chapters.
Noun
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a butcher's knife having a large square blade
