sauce
/sɔ:s/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A flavorful liquid or semi-solid condiment: A thick or liquid preparation served with food to add moisture and flavor.
- Impudence or impertinence (informal): Saucy or cheeky behavior or remarks.
Verb:
- To add sauce to: To cover or serve with a sauce.
- To make more interesting or piquant: To add zest, excitement, or interest to something.
- To be impudent towards (archaic/informal): To speak or act in a cheeky or disrespectful manner towards someone.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- I like to put tomato sauce on my pasta.
- He had the sauce to tell the boss she was wrong.
- Verb:
- She sauced the vegetables with a light butter and herb dressing.
- The comedian sauced his routine with witty political commentary.
Advanced Usage
- "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander": A proverb meaning what is appropriate for one person is appropriate for another; the same rules should apply to everyone.
- If she has to work late, so should he—what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
- "Hunger is the best sauce": A saying meaning that food tastes best when one is hungry.
- After the long hike, even simple bread tasted wonderful—hunger is the best sauce.
Variants and Related Words
- Saucy (adjective): Impudent, cheeky, or stylishly bold.
- She gave a saucy reply.
- Saucer (noun): A small, shallow dish for holding a cup. (Note: This is a different word, but it shares the same root related to "salt" or "condiment").
- Saucepan (noun): A deep cooking pan, typically with a long handle and a lid.
Synonyms
- Condiment: A substance such as salt, mustard, or relish used to flavor food.
- Dressing: A sauce for salads, typically oil and vinegar with herbs.
- Impudence: Lack of respect; rudeness.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- Sauce up (informal): To make something more exciting or lively.
- They sauced up the party with some great music.
- Serve someone with the same sauce: To treat someone in the same (often negative) way they have treated you; to retaliate.
- After his prank, they served him with the same sauce.
Related Idioms
- None of your sauce! (dated, informal): Don't be impudent! Stop being cheeky!
- "None of your sauce, young man!" the teacher said.
- To be on the sauce (slang): To be drinking alcohol heavily, especially habitually.
- He's been on the sauce ever since he lost his job.
Noun
- flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food
Verb
- add zest or flavor to, make more interesting
- sauce the roast
- dress (food) with a relish
- behave saucily or impudently towards