sauce-boat
Definition
Noun: A sauce-boat is a small, often elongated container or dish, typically with a handle and a spout, used for serving sauce or gravy at the table.
Usage Examples
- (A dish with a spout for serving sauce.)
- (A decorative container for sauce.)
- (Using the vessel to dispense sauce.)
Advanced Usage
- "to pass the sauce-boat": an idiomatic expression meaning to hand over the container of sauce during a meal.
- At the formal dinner, the butler passed the sauce-boat to each guest. (The container was offered around the table.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sauceboat (n): a variant spelling of "sauce-boat," meaning the same thing.
- The sauceboat matched the rest of the china set. (The container for sauce.)
Synonyms
- Gravy boat: a similar vessel, often specifically for gravy.
- Sauce dish: a general term for a small dish used to hold sauce.
Related Idioms
- "to be in the sauce-boat": a rare, informal phrase meaning to be in a favorable or advantageous position (derived from the idea of having access to sauce, which enhances food).
- After the promotion, he felt like he was in the sauce-boat. (He was in a good position.)