Food & Drink

American slang and idioms related to food, dining, and beverages

はじめに

アメリカの食文化には独自のボキャブラリーがあります。「soda」と「pop」のどちらが正しいかという地域対決から、「doggy bag」という万国共通のコンセプトまで、フードスラングはアメリカの多様な食文化を反映しています。

この章では、食べること、飲むこと、外食に関するアメリカのスラングを探ります。レストラン、バーベキュー、フードトラックなど、全米各地で出会う表現です。

テーマ

この章のアメリカ英語スラング一覧（84）

• Doggy bag A container for taking home leftover food from a restaurant.
• Chow down To eat enthusiastically and heartily.
• Grub Food, especially hearty or basic food.
• The munchies An intense craving for snack food, especially late at night.
• Potluck A communal meal where each guest brings a dish to share.
• Takeout Food ordered at a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere, typically at home.
• Drive-thru A service window at a fast-food restaurant where you order and receive food w...
• Comfort food Food that provides emotional comfort, usually nostalgic, warm, and filling.
• Junk food Unhealthy processed food with low nutritional value, like chips, candy, and f...
• Foodie A person who is especially enthusiastic about food and enjoys trying new rest...
• Hole-in-the-wall A small, modest, unassuming restaurant that serves unexpectedly great food.
• Greasy spoon A cheap, no-frills diner or restaurant that serves basic, often greasy food.
• Happy hour A period, usually in the late afternoon, when bars and restaurants offer disc...
• BYOB Bring Your Own Bottle (or Beer/Booze) — a party or restaurant where you bring...
• Cookout An outdoor meal where food is cooked on a grill, similar to a barbecue.
• Brunch A late-morning meal combining breakfast and lunch, often a social event on we...
• Bottomless mimosas An unlimited-refill brunch drink deal, typically champagne mixed with orange ...
• Loaded Topped or filled with lots of extras and toppings.
• Supersize To upgrade to the largest available portion size, especially at fast-food res...
• All-you-can-eat A restaurant or buffet where you pay a fixed price and eat as much as you want.
• Brown bag it To bring your own lunch to work or school, typically in a brown paper bag.
• Food truck A mobile restaurant that serves food from a large vehicle, usually parked on ...
• Farm-to-table A food movement emphasizing locally sourced ingredients directly from farms t...
• Grab a bite Casual slang for getting a quick, informal meal, often on the go.
• Pig out To eat a large amount of food, especially in a greedy or indulgent way.
• Scarf down To eat food very quickly, almost without chewing.
• Shotgun a beer To puncture a hole in the side of a beer can and drink the entire thing rapidly.
• A cold one Casual slang for a cold beer, commonly used in relaxed social settings.
• Craft beer Beer made by small, independent breweries with emphasis on quality and unique...
• Moonshine Illegally distilled, homemade liquor, traditionally made in rural America.
• Booze Informal term for alcoholic drinks in general, used in casual conversation.
• Buzzed Slightly intoxicated from alcohol — between sober and drunk.
• Hammered Very drunk, heavily intoxicated.
• Designated driver The person in a group who stays sober to drive everyone home safely.
• Last call The final announcement at a bar that drink orders are about to close.
• On the rocks A drink served over ice cubes.
• Neat A spirit served at room temperature without ice, water, or any mixer.
• Chaser A milder drink consumed immediately after a shot of hard liquor.
• Nuke it To heat food in the microwave.
• Whip up To quickly prepare a meal or dish.
• Midnight snack A snack eaten late at night, often impulsively.
• Sweet tooth A strong craving or love for sweet foods and desserts.
• Food baby A bloated, protruding stomach from eating too much.
• Stuffed Extremely full from eating too much food.
• Hit the spot To be exactly what you wanted or needed, perfectly satisfying a craving.
• Soul food Traditional African American cuisine from the Southern United States.
• Deep-fried Food cooked by being fully submerged in hot oil.
• Slider A small hamburger, typically served as an appetizer or in multiples.
• Wings Chicken wing pieces served as a popular American appetizer or snack, usually ...
• Sides Side dishes that accompany a main course at a restaurant.
• Sloppy Joe A messy sandwich of seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce served on a hamburge...
• Sub A long sandwich made on a roll, also called a submarine sandwich.
• Hoagie A large submarine sandwich — the Philadelphia term for a sub.
• Brewskis Beers — a playful, informal way to refer to beer.
• Kegger A party where beer is served from a keg.
• Leftovers Food remaining from a previous meal, saved to be eaten later.
• Carb-loading Eating large amounts of carbohydrates, originally before athletic events, now...
• Pumpkin spice A flavor combination (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice) associated with Ame...
• Cold brew Coffee made by steeping grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours, resulting in a...
• On the house Free of charge — paid for by the establishment.
• Go Dutch To split a bill so that each person pays for their own meal or drinks.
• Dine and dash To leave a restaurant without paying the bill.
• Run a tab To keep a running bill at a bar, paying for all drinks at the end.
• Eats Food, or places to eat — used as a casual noun.
• Chow Food or a meal — casual slang for something to eat.
• Grits A Southern American porridge made from ground corn, served as a breakfast sta...
• Mac and cheese Macaroni pasta with a creamy cheese sauce — an iconic American comfort food.
• S'mores A campfire treat made by sandwiching melted marshmallow and chocolate between...
• PB&J A peanut butter and jelly sandwich — the most iconic American sandwich.
• BLT A bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich — a classic American deli staple.
• Food court A shared dining area in a shopping mall with multiple fast-food vendors.
• Clean eating A dietary approach focused on eating whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding ju...
• Spread A large, impressive display of food laid out for a gathering.
• Top shelf The highest quality liquor at a bar, stored on the top shelf behind the bar.
• Well drink A cocktail made with the cheapest house liquor stored in the bartender's well.
• Watered down Diluted, weakened — literally or figuratively.
• Finger food Small food items designed to be eaten with your hands, without utensils.
• To go Food or drink ordered for consumption away from the restaurant.
• Free refill An unlimited top-up of a drink at no extra charge — a standard practice in Am...
• Gastropub A bar or pub that serves high-quality, upscale food alongside craft drinks.
• Munchie run A late-night trip to a store or fast-food place to buy snacks.
• A bite to eat A casual expression for a small, quick meal or light snack, often between meals.
• Grease bomb An extremely greasy, unhealthy food item.
• Food fight A chaotic scene where people throw food at each other, often in a cafeteria s...