Basic Details
Word: Strainer
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A kitchen tool used to separate solids from liquids or to remove unwanted bits from food.
Synonyms: Sieve, colander, filter
Antonyms: N/A
Idioms and Phrases
- To strain every nerve: To make every possible effort. Example: "She had to strain every nerve to finish her project on time."
- Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel: To focus on minor details while ignoring larger issues. Example: "He worries about the smallest mistakes but forgets to check the main points; it's like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel."
Usage Examples
Example 1: After boiling the pasta, I used a strainer to drain the water.
Example 2: She poured the juice through a strainer to remove the pulp.
Example 3: The chef explained how a fine strainer can make the sauce smoother.
Fun Fact
Strainers have been used for centuries, with ancient Greeks and Romans using woven baskets or cloth to achieve the same purpose of separating solids from liquids.
Famous Quote
"The strainer is to the cook what the editor is to a writer." Anonymous
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "strainer" mean?
a) A kitchen tool for mixing
b) A device to separate solids from liquids
c) A type of refrigerator
d) A machine for baking
Answer: b) A device to separate solids from liquids
2. Which of these is a synonym for "strainer"?
a) Spoon
b) Sieve
c) Knife
d) Fork
Answer: b) Sieve
3. Which sentence uses "strainer" correctly?
a) I used the strainer to chop the vegetables.
b) The strainer helped remove the bits from the soup.
c) The strainer is used to bake cakes.
d) I painted the strainer a bright colour.
Answer: b) The strainer helped remove the bits from the soup.
4. Which idiom means to make every possible effort?
a) Strain every nerve
b) Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel
c) Bite the bullet
d) Hit the nail on the head
Answer: a) Strain every nerve
5. What is the opposite of "strainer"?
a) N/A
b) Blender
c) Cooker
d) Fork
Answer: a) N/A
