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melbourne cup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (specific cultural reference)
UK/ˈmelbən ˈkʌp/US/ˈmɛlbərn ˈkəp/

Informal, Formal, Journalistic

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Quick answer

What does “melbourne cup” mean?

A prestigious annual thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A prestigious annual thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia.

A major Australian cultural and sporting event; a public holiday in the state of Victoria; a national celebration often associated with fashion, social gatherings, and gambling.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Primarily an Australian term. In UK/US contexts, it is a foreign cultural reference explained when used.

Connotations

In Aus/NZ: Major national event, spring carnival, 'the race that stops a nation'. In UK/US: Exotic sporting event, Australian culture.

Frequency

High frequency in Australian English, especially in Oct-Nov. Low frequency elsewhere except in international sports/news contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “melbourne cup” in a Sentence

[Subject] wins the Melbourne Cup.The Melbourne Cup is held on [Day].[People] celebrate the Melbourne Cup.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
win the Melbourne CupMelbourne Cup dayMelbourne Cup winnerMelbourne Cup carnival
medium
bet on the Melbourne CupMelbourne Cup fieldMelbourne Cup favouritecelebrate the Melbourne Cup
weak
Melbourne Cup feverMelbourne Cup lunchMelbourne Cup fashionwatch the Melbourne Cup

Examples

Examples of “melbourne cup” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Melbourne Cup festivities are in full swing.
  • She bought a new Melbourne Cup hat.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to the public holiday impact on operations, or sponsorship and advertising opportunities.

Academic

Discussed in cultural studies, sports history, or economics of gambling.

Everyday

Plans for the day, betting, outfits, social gatherings.

Technical

In horse racing: handicap race, 3200 metres, Group 1 status, for three-year-olds and over.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “melbourne cup”

Neutral

the Cupthe race

Weak

the big racethe two-mile race

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “melbourne cup”

  • Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'melbourne cup').
  • Using 'the' incorrectly (it's usually 'the Melbourne Cup', not just 'Melbourne Cup' in a sentence like 'I'm watching Melbourne Cup').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is held on the first Tuesday in November each year.

Yes, but only in the state of Victoria. It is a normal working day in other Australian states.

It is a handicap race run over a distance of 3200 metres (approximately two miles).

Yes, tickets are sold to the general public, but different enclosures (like the 'Birdcage') are often reserved for members, owners, and sponsors.

A prestigious annual thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia.

Melbourne cup is usually informal, formal, journalistic in register.

Melbourne cup: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmelbən ˈkʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛlbərn ˈkəp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “'The race that stops a nation'”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of MELBOURNE (the city) and a CUP (the trophy). The city competes for the cup in a famous horse race.

Conceptual Metaphor

A CROWNING EVENT (the peak of the racing season).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The first Tuesday in November is a public holiday in Victoria for the .
Multiple Choice

What is the Melbourne Cup?