unchewable
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Impossible to chew; too tough to be chewed effectively. This describes food, especially meat, that is so tough, fibrous, or stringy that it cannot be broken down by chewing.
Usage
The adjective "unchewable" is used to describe the physical property of food that makes it difficult or impossible to eat by normal chewing. It is often a criticism of food preparation or quality. - It typically comes after a linking verb like "is," "was," or "seems." - It can be used before a noun as an attributive adjective.
Examples
- After a linking verb:
- The steak was so overcooked it became completely unchewable.
- This piece of gum turns unchewable after a few minutes.
- Before a noun (attributive):
- He was served an unchewable piece of gristly meat.
- The unchewable texture of the fruit leather made it unpleasant to eat.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: While primarily literal, "unchewable" can be used metaphorically to describe abstract concepts that are extremely difficult to process or accept.
- The report presented an unchewable mass of contradictory data.
- His latest theory is intellectually unchewable for most undergraduates.
Variants and Related Words
- Chewable (adj.): Able to be chewed easily. (The direct opposite).
- Tough (adj.): Difficult to cut or chew. (A more common synonym, but less absolute).
- Stringy (adj.): Containing long, thin pieces like string, often making food tough.
- Fibrous (adj.): Consisting of or resembling fibers, which can contribute to a tough texture.
- Gristly (adj.): Containing gristle (tough cartilage).
Synonyms
- Tough
- Leathery
- Like shoe leather (idiomatic)
- Indigestible (when referring to the consequence of being unchewable)
Antonyms
- Tender
- Chewable
- Soft
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tough as old boots: An idiom meaning extremely tough and difficult to chew or cut.
- This meat is as tough as old boots; it's practically unchewable.
Adjective
- (of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew