dough
B1Neutral for culinary sense; informal/slang for money sense.
Definition
Meaning
A thick, pliable mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking into bread or pastry.
Informal slang for money.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The money sense (first recorded c. 1850) originates from the idea of bread as a basic necessity, extended to money ("breadwinner"), with "dough" being the raw material for bread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The slang for money is equally common and informal in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical. The culinary term is neutral; the money term is informal/colloquial.
Frequency
The culinary term is of medium frequency. The money slang is common in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
knead [dough]roll out [the dough]leave [the dough] to risemake [some dough] (money)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's rolling in dough (very rich).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in formal business contexts, except possibly in the food industry (e.g., 'dough production'). The slang 'dough' for money is too informal for formal business reports.
Academic
Used in culinary or historical contexts (e.g., 'analysing gluten development in dough'). The money slang is avoided.
Everyday
Common in cooking contexts (e.g., recipes). The money slang is frequent in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific in baking science (e.g., 'dough rheology', 'fermented dough').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- This recipe requires you to dough the mixture thoroughly.
adjective
British English
- The doughy texture was underbaked.
American English
- The center was still a bit doughy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am making dough for bread.
- She needs more dough to buy a car. (informal)
- You must knead the dough for at least ten minutes.
- He earned a lot of dough working overtime last month.
- After proving, the dough had doubled in size.
- They invested their dough in a risky start-up venture.
- The baker adjusted the hydration level of the sourdough dough to achieve a more open crumb.
- Despite his humble appearance, he was reputed to have serious dough tucked away in offshore accounts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DOUGH rhymes with "GO." You need DOUGH (money) to GO shopping. You KNEAD DOUGH to make bread GO into the oven.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A BASIC FOODSTUFF / RAW MATERIAL (cf. 'bread', 'dough', 'cabbage', 'lettuce').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid false cognate with Russian "тесто" (tyesto) for pastry/dough. The English word is pronounced completely differently (/doʊ/ vs /tʲestə/).
- The slang meaning 'money' has no direct equivalent in Russian using the same metaphor; "бабки" or "бабло" are different metaphors.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing it as /daɡ/ (like 'dog') or /dʌf/ (like 'duff').
- Spelling confusion: 'dough' vs. 'doe' (a female deer) vs. 'doughnut'/'donut'.
Practice
Quiz
In informal slang, 'dough' can mean:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Dough is thick and kneadable (for bread, pizza). Batter is thin and pourable (for cakes, pancakes). Pastry is a specific type of dough, often rich in fat, for pies and tarts.
It is still widely understood and used, though it might sound slightly old-fashioned to younger speakers who prefer terms like 'cash', 'money', or other contemporary slang. It remains a staple in the informal lexicon.
It's an extension of the older slang 'bread' for money, which itself comes from the idea of bread as a basic necessity of life. 'Dough' is the raw material for bread, hence the raw material for living.
It is a one-syllable word. In British English, it rhymes with 'go', 'show', 'no' (/dəʊ/). In American English, it also rhymes with 'go' and 'no' (/doʊ/). The 'gh' is silent.