cheese straw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, culinary
Quick answer
What does “cheese straw” mean?
A thin, crisp pastry snack made with cheese and dough, typically cut into straw-like strips and baked.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, crisp pastry snack made with cheese and dough, typically cut into straw-like strips and baked.
A savory finger food, often served at parties or as an appetizer, characterized by its flaky texture and cheesy flavor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties, but the item is more commonly associated with British and Southern US cuisine. In the UK, it is a classic party snack. In the US, it is particularly associated with Southern hospitality and holiday gatherings.
Connotations
UK: traditional, somewhat old-fashioned party food, often homemade. US (especially Southern): a staple of home baking, potlucks, and genteel entertaining.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse but common in specific culinary/entertaining contexts. Higher recognition in the UK and the Southern US.
Grammar
How to Use “cheese straw” in a Sentence
[Someone] bakes/makes/serves [cheese straws][Cheese straws] are made from [ingredients]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheese straw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We can cheese-straw the leftovers into snacks. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- She decided to cheese-straw the extra pastry. (very rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- The cheese-straw mixture was ready to pipe. (attributive use)
American English
- She brought a cheese-straw tray to the potluck. (attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in catering or food industry contexts.
Academic
Rare, except in historical or cultural studies of food.
Everyday
Used in social and domestic contexts related to cooking and entertaining.
Technical
Used in culinary arts and recipe writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cheese straw”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cheese straw”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheese straw”
- Using 'cheese straw' as a countable noun for the dough itself (e.g., 'I rolled the cheese straw') instead of for the finished baked item.
- Confusing it with 'breadsticks' or 'cheese sticks' which are different items.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are unequivocally savory, with cheese (often cheddar or parmesan) as the dominant flavor.
They are available both commercially in supermarkets (especially in the UK) and are very commonly made at home from simple recipes.
A cheese straw is made from a shortcrust or puff pastry dough with cheese incorporated, resulting in a rich, flaky, and crumbly texture. A breadstick is made from a lean bread dough, resulting in a chewy or crisp, less rich texture.
No, it is a low-frequency, culturally specific lexical item. Learners are likely to encounter it only in specific contexts related to food, cooking, or British/American Southern culture.
A thin, crisp pastry snack made with cheese and dough, typically cut into straw-like strips and baked.
Cheese straw is usually informal, culinary in register.
Cheese straw: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiːz ˌstrɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiz ˌstrɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STRAW made of CHEESE that you can eat, but it's actually a baked pastry. Think: 'Cheese you can draw a straw.'
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS A CRAFTED OBJECT (shaped like a straw).
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you LEAST likely to encounter 'cheese straws'?