toffee

/'tɔfi/ Cách viết khác : (toffy) /'tɔfi/ (taffy) /'tæfi/

Thân thiện

A child breaks a piece of toffee from a golden sheet.

Definition

Noun: 1. A hard, brittle candy made by boiling sugar and butter together: Toffee is a type of confectionery created by caramelizing sugar (or molasses) along with butter, and sometimes flour. The mixture is heated until it reaches the hard crack stage, then cooled to form a solid, often chewy or crunchy candy. 2. The substance or flavor of such a candy: The word can also refer to the distinct, sweet, buttery, and caramel-like flavor characteristic of this candy.

Usage and Examples

• As a physical candy:
  • She bought a bag of toffee at the sweet shop.
  • The recipe calls for chopped nuts to be mixed into the toffee before it sets.
• Referring to the flavor:
  • I love the toffee notes in this dessert.
  • This coffee has a hint of toffee and caramel.

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• Not for toffee (UK, informal idiom): Used to emphasize that someone is very bad at doing something. It means "not at all" or "hopelessly."
  • He can't dance for toffee. (He is a very bad dancer.)
  • I tried to fix it, but I'm not a mechanic for toffee. (I am completely hopeless as a mechanic.)

Variants and Related Words

• Toffy: An alternative, less common spelling of "toffee."
• English toffee: A specific variety of toffee, often made with almonds.
• Butterscotch: A related confection with a similar flavor profile, but traditionally made with brown sugar and butter, and often has a softer, more chewy consistency than hard toffee.
• Taffy (primarily US): A type of chewy candy made by stretching or pulling a boiled sugar mixture. It is distinct from the harder, more brittle toffee.

Synonyms

• Brittle (when referring to a similar hard, sugary candy, like nut brittle)
• Candy
• Confection

Notes on Different Meanings

The primary and almost exclusive meaning of "toffee" is the confectionery item. Its use in the idiom "not for toffee" is a fixed, informal expression that derives from the idea of something being utterly worthless (not even worth a piece of candy).

Học thuật

Noun

1. caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets

Từ đồng nghĩa

• brittle
• toffy