Basic Details
Word: Marinate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To soak food, usually meat, in a mixture of liquid and spices for a period of time before cooking it to make it tastier.
Synonyms: Soak, infuse, steep
Antonyms: Dry, unseasoned
Idioms and Phrases
- Marinate in its own juices: To allow something to develop or improve in its natural state. Example: "Let the project marinate in its own juices before finalising your decisions to make it even better."
- Take time to marinate: To take time for consideration or to think things through. Example: "I need to take time to marinate on this idea before I give you my answer."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Before grilling the chicken, we decided to marinate it in a mix of lemon juice and herbs for a few hours.
Example 2: Marinating vegetables in a tasty dressing can greatly enhance their flavour in salads.
Example 3: The chef recommended marinating the fish overnight for the best taste when it is cooked.
Fun Fact
Did you know that marinating foods not only adds flavour but can also help tenderise tough cuts of meat? The acids in marinades break down proteins, making them softer and juicier!
Famous Quote
"Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." - Harriet Van Horne
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "marinate" mean?
a) To cook food
b) To soak food in a mixture for flavour
c) To freeze food
d) To bake food
Answer: b) To soak food in a mixture for flavour
2. Which of these is a synonym of "marinate"?
a) Freeze
b) Soak
c) Cut
d) Boil
Answer: b) Soak
3. Which is an antonym of "marinate"?
a) Flavour
b) Tenderise
c) Dry
d) Infuse
Answer: c) Dry
4. Which sentence uses "marinate" correctly?
a) I marinate the cake for dessert.
b) We should marinate the steak for dinner tonight.
c) He decided to marinate the bread before toasting it.
d) She will marinate the soup on the stove.
Answer: b) We should marinate the steak for dinner tonight.
5. Which idiom means to take time for consideration?
a) Marinate in its own juices
b) Jump in with both feet
c) A fish out of water
d) Play it by ear
Answer: a) Marinate in its own juices
