oyster-bar

Definition

Noun: A counter, bar, or small restaurant where oysters are sold and often served raw or prepared, typically in a hotel or a seafood establishment.

Usage Examples

• (A counter or small establishment selling oysters.)
• (A place where oysters are prepared and served.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be at the oyster-bar": to be present at or patronizing an oyster bar.

  • He spent the evening at the oyster-bar, enjoying the view of the harbour. (He was at the counter or establishment where oysters are sold.)

• "oyster-bar culture": a social tradition or atmosphere associated with eating oysters at such a counter.

  • The city's oyster-bar culture is famous for its lively, communal dining experience. (The social customs and practices of oyster bars.)

Variants and Related Words

• Oyster (n): a type of marine mollusk, often eaten raw or cooked.

  • The oysters at this bar are served with lemon and hot sauce. (The mollusk itself.)

• Oyster-bed (n): a place where oysters are bred or harvested.

  • The oyster-bed near the coast supplies the local oyster-bars. (A breeding ground for oysters.)

Synonyms

• Seafood counter: a counter in a restaurant or market where seafood is sold.
• Raw bar: a bar or counter specializing in raw shellfish, including oysters.

Related Idioms

• The world is your oyster-bar: a playful variation of "the world is your oyster," meaning you have opportunities to enjoy life, especially through fine dining.
  • With his new job, the world is his oyster-bar — he can afford the best seafood. (He has many opportunities, especially for lavish experiences.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Oyster up: (informal, rare) to close oneself off or become uncommunicative, like an oyster closing its shell.
  • After the argument, he just oyster'd up and wouldn't talk. (He became silent and withdrawn.)