mint sauce: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “mint sauce” mean?
A condiment made from chopped fresh mint, sugar and vinegar, typically served with roast lamb.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A condiment made from chopped fresh mint, sugar and vinegar, typically served with roast lamb.
Sometimes used metaphorically to signify something quintessentially British, traditional, or a classic pairing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
It is a standard, well-known condiment in the UK, particularly associated with lamb. In the US, mint sauce is less common and less culturally ingrained; mint jelly is a more frequent pairing with lamb.
Connotations
UK: Tradition, home cooking, Sunday lunches. US: Less familiar, perceived as a British or specialty item.
Frequency
High frequency in UK culinary contexts; low frequency in general US English.
Grammar
How to Use “mint sauce” in a Sentence
[Subject] serves mint sauce with X.[Subject] makes mint sauce from Y.X is accompanied by mint sauce.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mint sauce” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We should mint-sauce the lamb properly.
- (Note: highly non-standard, creative use)
American English
- (No standard verb use exists.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use exists.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use exists.)
adjective
British English
- It was a proper mint-sauce flavour.
- (Note: highly non-standard, compound adjective use)
American English
- (No standard adjectival use exists.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; possibly in culinary history or cultural studies texts.
Everyday
Common in UK domestic and restaurant contexts when discussing food.
Technical
Used in cookery and food preparation contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mint sauce”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mint sauce”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mint sauce”
- Using 'mint sauce' to refer to a sweet, creamy mint dessert topping (that is 'mint sauce' in a different culinary tradition).
- Omitting the article: 'I like mint sauce' (correct) vs. 'I like a mint sauce' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mint sauce is a loose, vinegary liquid with chopped mint. Mint jelly is a firm, set jelly, often sweeter. They serve a similar purpose but have different textures and flavours.
While traditional with lamb, it can sometimes be used with other rich meats like mutton or as a tangy addition to sandwiches, but this is less common.
It is typically served cold or at room temperature.
It became a staple of British cuisine in the 18th/19th centuries as a way to complement the strong flavour of mutton and lamb, which were commonly reared and eaten, cementing its place in the traditional Sunday roast.
A condiment made from chopped fresh mint, sugar and vinegar, typically served with roast lamb.
Mint sauce is usually informal, culinary in register.
Mint sauce: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪnt ˌsɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪnt ˌsɔːs/ or /ˈmɪnt ˌsɑːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] 'As British as mint sauce' (used to emphasize traditional Britishness).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MINT (the plant) being poured from a SAUCE boat onto a plate with a lamb on it. The lamb says, 'Oh mint!' (a pun on 'oh man!').
Conceptual Metaphor
TRADITION IS A RECIPE (mint sauce as a component of a traditional ritual meal).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of mint sauce in British culinary culture?