candy cane: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Everyday
Quick answer
What does “candy cane” mean?
A hard, sugary candy in the shape of a walking stick, traditionally white with red stripes and peppermint flavoured, strongly associated with Christmas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hard, sugary candy in the shape of a walking stick, traditionally white with red stripes and peppermint flavoured, strongly associated with Christmas.
By extension, any similarly shaped confectionery, or a decorative pattern resembling this striped hook shape. Can also refer to a type of brightly-coloured land snail (Liguus virgineus) with a similar spiral, striped pattern.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'candy cane' is the standard term in American English. In British English, 'candy' is less common for sweets; however, 'candy cane' is still the prevalent term for this specific item, though one might generically refer to it as a 'peppermint stick'.
Connotations
Identical strong Christmas/winter holiday connotations in both dialects. In the UK, the Americanism 'candy' within the compound is not marked, as the item is recognised as an imported tradition.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to its centrality in Christmas traditions. Common in British English in December/Christmas contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “candy cane” in a Sentence
[verb] a candy cane (hang, eat, break, lick)[adjective] candy cane (striped, broken, giant, miniature)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “candy cane” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The baker will candy-cane the edges of the cake with piped icing in red and white stripes.
- They tried to candy-cane the tree branches with sugary syrup, but it was messy.
American English
- Let's candy-cane these cookies by dipping them in the red and white frosting.
- The street was candy-caned with rows of red-and-white striped poles.
adverb
British English
- The ribbons were twisted candy-cane around the gift box.
American English
- The vines grew candy-cane around the old fence post.
adjective
British English
- The shop had a candy-cane theme for its Christmas window display.
- She wore candy-cane striped tights.
American English
- They painted the porch posts in a candy-cane pattern.
- We bought candy-cane scented soap for the holidays.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in confectionery manufacturing, retail (seasonal stock), or marketing for Christmas promotions.
Academic
Rare. Might appear in cultural studies papers on Christmas traditions or semiotics of festive symbols.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation during the Christmas period, especially with children or regarding decorations and treats.
Technical
Rare, except in food science regarding sugar crystallization, flavouring, or colouring processes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “candy cane”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “candy cane”
- Misspelling as 'candy cain' or 'candy cane'.
- Using it to refer to any straight peppermint sweet without the characteristic hook shape.
- Pronouncing 'cane' as /kɑːn/ instead of /keɪn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While all candy canes are peppermint sticks, not all peppermint sticks are candy canes. A 'candy cane' specifically refers to the hooked, red-and-white striped version strongly associated with Christmas. A straight, solid-coloured peppermint sweet is usually just called a peppermint stick.
The shape is traditionally said to represent a shepherd's crook, linking it to the Christian Nativity story. Practically, the hook shape makes it easy to hang on a Christmas tree branch.
Yes, informally. As a verb (to candy-cane), it means to decorate or pattern something with red and white stripes, reminiscent of a candy cane. As an adjective (candy-cane), it describes anything having that distinctive striped pattern (e.g., candy-cane leggings).
Traditionally, yes, peppermint is the dominant flavour. However, modern variations include many other flavours like fruit punch, cinnamon, chocolate, and even savoury or sour flavours, though these deviate from the classic concept.
A hard, sugary candy in the shape of a walking stick, traditionally white with red stripes and peppermint flavoured, strongly associated with Christmas.
Candy cane is usually informal, everyday in register.
Candy cane: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkændi ˌkeɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkændi ˌkeɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SANTA'S CANE: it's the CANDY version of the walking stick (cane) he might use, but you can eat it.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHRISTMAS CHEER IS A SWEET TREAT; A HOLIDAY TRADITION IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (to be hung, given, consumed).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'candy-cane'?