barbeque
B1Informal, Social, Culinary
Definition
Meaning
A method of cooking meat, especially outdoors, over an open flame or hot coals; also the social event or meal featuring such food.
Can refer to the grill or apparatus used for such cooking, the style of seasoned food (e.g., barbeque ribs), and metaphorically to a severe criticism or roasting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies slow cooking with smoke for flavour. Distinguish from generic 'grilling' (quick cooking over direct heat). The variant spelling 'barbeque' is common in informal usage, though 'barbecue' is standard in dictionaries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'barbecue' (BBQ) often refers to the social event of grilling outdoors, sometimes even using gas grills. In the US, especially the South, 'barbeque' (BBQ) strongly connotes a specific regional cuisine (e.g., Texas, Carolina, Kansas City styles) involving slow-smoked meats.
Connotations
UK: Summer social, garden party, possibly erratic weather. US: Deeply regional food tradition, often associated with specialist restaurants, sauces, and smoking techniques.
Frequency
Both spellings ('barbecue' and 'barbeque') are common in both regions, but 'barbecue' is the dominant formal spelling. 'Barbeque' is frequently seen in brand names and informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a barbequecook (sth) on the barbequebe invited to a barbequefire up the barbequesmell of barbequeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “barbeque the books (slang: to falsify accounts)”
- “barbeque someone (figurative: to criticize harshly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hospitality/tourism (e.g., 'beachside barbeque nights').
Academic
Rare; may appear in cultural studies or anthropology papers on food traditions.
Everyday
Very common for social planning and food discussion.
Technical
Used in culinary arts regarding cooking techniques.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Let's barbeque the sausages before it rains.
- He's barbequing for twenty people this weekend.
American English
- We'll barbeque the brisket low and slow for 12 hours.
- She barbeques a mean rack of ribs.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- They served a lovely barbeque chicken.
- It's a barbeque-style sauce.
American English
- This is an authentic barbeque joint.
- He loves barbeque flavour crisps.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had a barbeque in the garden.
- I like barbeque sauce.
- If the weather's nice, we should have a barbeque on Saturday.
- Do you prefer charcoal or gas for your barbeque?
- The distinct smokiness of proper barbeque comes from hardwoods like hickory or mesquite.
- His plans for a massive barbeque were rained off at the last minute.
- The political candidate was barbequed by the press over his contradictory statements.
- American barbeque culture varies dramatically from state to state, encompassing vinegar-based sauces in Carolina and dry rubs in Texas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the letters 'BBQ' as three skewers holding meat over flames: B (beef), B (bun), Q (queue of people waiting for food).
Conceptual Metaphor
A BARBEQUE IS A SOCIAL HUB (e.g., 'The conversation centred around the barbeque').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'шашлык' (shashlik), which is specific skewered meat. 'Barbeque' is a broader concept. The Russian 'барбекю' is a direct loanword.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'barbequeue' or 'barbaque'. Using 'barbeque' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'I will barbeque it' is fine, but 'I barbequed the meat' is less standard than 'I barbecued').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'barbeque' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference in meaning. 'Barbecue' is the standard dictionary spelling. 'Barbeque' is a common phonetic/informal spelling, often seen in branding (e.g., 'BBQ').
Yes, informally (e.g., 'I'll barbeque the burgers'). However, 'barbecue' is the more standard verb form in formal writing.
No, it's an initialism (or abbreviation) for 'barbecue' or 'barbeque'. Folk etymologies like 'Bar-Be-Que' or 'Beer, Burgers, Quiet' are not the origin.
Confusing it with simple 'grilling'. True barbeque (especially in the US sense) involves slow, indirect heat and smoke, not just quick cooking over flames.