kitchen police: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, chiefly historical (military), occasionally humorous
Quick answer
What does “kitchen police” mean?
A U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A U.S. military term for soldiers assigned to menial duties, particularly food preparation and cleanup in the kitchen.
Often used in civilian contexts to refer to anyone performing tedious, low-status domestic chores, or humorously to someone forced to do cleanup work. It also serves as a synonym for 'drudgery' or tedious labour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This is a distinctly American term originating from U.S. military jargon. The British military has its own terms (e.g., 'mess orderly', 'fatigues', 'peeling spuds'), so 'kitchen police' would be understood primarily in an American context or in media depicting U.S. forces. It is not part of standard British English.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes a specific, well-understood type of military drudgery. In British English, if used, it would likely be recognised from American films or literature and might sound like a borrowed term.
Frequency
Common in historical and contemporary narratives of the U.S. military; very rare to non-existent in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “kitchen police” in a Sentence
be assigned to ~pull ~do ~be on ~get stuck with ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “kitchen police” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – Not used as a verb in British English.
American English
- N/A – 'KP' is sometimes verbed informally ('I got KP'd'), but 'kitchen police' itself is not standardly used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- He had that kitchen-police look of utter boredom.
- They were given kitchen-police duties for the week.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically in informal talk: 'The new intern got all the kitchen police work.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical, sociological, or military studies discussing armed forces organization and culture.
Everyday
Used informally/jokingly among friends/family about shared chores: 'Alright kids, time for kitchen police—who's washing, who's drying?'
Technical
Primarily a military term in manuals, regulations, and historical accounts of U.S. service life.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “kitchen police”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “kitchen police”
- Using it as a title for a person (e.g., 'He is a kitchen police') instead of a duty (e.g., 'He is on kitchen police'). Confusing it with actual law enforcement.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While cooks have a skilled trade, 'kitchen police' refers specifically to unskilled, often temporary labour assigned to cleaning, peeling vegetables, and washing dishes.
Yes, but usually metaphorically or humorously. A parent might tell their children it's 'time for kitchen police' to get them to help clean up, evoking the idea of it being a duty.
The standard abbreviation is 'KP'. You might hear 'I'm on KP' or 'He pulled KP yesterday.'
While the specific duties still exist, the formal term 'kitchen police' (KP) is less common in contemporary official use, often replaced by terms like 'details' or specific job descriptions. However, the term remains deeply embedded in military culture and is widely understood.
A U.
Kitchen police is usually informal, chiefly historical (military), occasionally humorous in register.
Kitchen police: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɪtʃɪn pəˈliːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɪtʃən pəˈliːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pulling KP”
- “It's not exactly kitchen police, but... (used to downplay a tedious task)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a police officer whose beat is the kitchen, not to enforce law but to enforce cleanliness through scrubbing pots.
Conceptual Metaphor
MENIAL WORK IS PUNISHMENT / CLEANING IS A PENAL SYSTEM
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'kitchen police' MOST historically accurate and commonly used?