Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of stew: "Mulligan stew" refers to a hearty, improvised stew, typically made with a variety of available meats and vegetables. It is often associated with communal or makeshift cooking, such as in camps or during times when ingredients are not fixed.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hikers made a large pot of mulligan stew over the campfire.
  • During the Depression, mulligan stew was a common meal because it could be made with whatever ingredients people had.

Advanced Usage

• As a cultural reference: The term can evoke a sense of resourcefulness, communal sharing, or making do with limited means.
  • The novel depicted the camaraderie of the workers, often sharing a simple mulligan stew.

Variants and Related Words

• Mulligan (noun): Informally, can refer to a second chance or a do-over, especially in golf. This is a distinct meaning from the stew.
  • He took a mulligan on the first tee.
• Burgoo (noun): A similar type of thick stew, often associated with the American South and community gatherings.
• Irish stew (noun): A more traditional stew from Ireland, typically made with lamb, potatoes, onions, and carrots, which has a more defined recipe than mulligan stew.

Synonyms

• Hodgepodge: A confused mixture; a medley. (This emphasizes the improvised, mixed nature of the stew's ingredients.)
• Potluck: A meal where each guest brings a dish to share. (This relates to the communal aspect of the stew's preparation and serving.)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Everything but the kitchen sink": This idiom, meaning almost everything imaginable has been included, can describe the varied ingredients in a mulligan stew.
  • Her mulligan stew had everything but the kitchen sink in it.

Noun

1. Irish version of burgoo