dollop
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
A shapeless, often clumsy, and generous blob or lump of a soft substance, especially food.
A small, indefinite, and often untidy amount of something; can be extended to non-physical entities like an amount of work, effort, or luck.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with messy informality and a lack of precision. Often carries a connotation of generosity, indulgence, or clumsiness. Implies a three-dimensional blob.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the noun identically. The verb form 'to dollop' is slightly more common in British culinary contexts, but rare in AmE.
Connotations
UK: Often positive/generous in food contexts (e.g., cream, custard). US: Sometimes has a more negative connotation of a messy or excessive amount.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, but common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] a dollop of [NOUN] onto/into/on [NOUN][NOUN] + needs/gets/comes with + a dollop of [NOUN]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a dollop of common sense”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Informal metaphor: 'The project needs a dollop of fresh investment.'
Academic
Very rare, except in informal speech.
Everyday
Common, especially in cooking/talking about food: 'Add a dollop of yoghurt.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She dolloped clotted cream onto the warm scones.
- Just dollop the batter roughly into the muffin cases.
American English
- He dolloped a huge amount of sour cream on his chili.
- Dollop the guacamole right in the center of the plate.
adverb
British English
- 'Dollop' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- 'Dollop' is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- 'Dollop' is not standardly used as an adjective.
American English
- 'Dollop' is not standardly used as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like a big dollop of jam on my toast.
- Can you put a dollop of whipped cream on my dessert, please?
- The recipe was simple, but it lacked a dollop of creativity to make it special.
- His argument was sound, but it could have done with a dollop of diplomacy to make it palatable to the committee.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clumsy doll (DOLL) dropping a big blob (OP) of ice cream on the floor – a DOLL-OP.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABSTRACT QUALITIES ARE SUBSTANCES THAT CAN BE SERVED ('a dollop of luck', 'a dollop of humour').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'доля' (share/portion), which is more abstract. 'Dollop' is a concrete, messy blob. Closer to 'комок' or 'кусок' for soft foods, or 'порция' in a very informal sense.
- Avoid using for precise, measured amounts like 'столовая ложка' (tablespoon).
Common Mistakes
- Using for solid, hard objects ('a dollop of bread' is wrong).
- Using in formal writing.
- Confusing with 'drop' (which is much smaller and liquid).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'dollop' used LEAST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for pure, runny liquids like water. It's best for semi-solid, viscous substances (cream, sauce, mash) that hold a shape briefly.
Context-dependent. With food (cream, butter), it's often positive (generous, indulgent). In other contexts ('a dollop of mud'), it can imply messiness or excess.
No. It's deliberately imprecise, suggesting a casual, roughly spoon-sized amount that is often generous.
Yes, informally, especially in cooking contexts. It means to deposit a soft substance in a blob: 'Dollop the mixture onto the tray.'