shrimp
B1Neutral (literal meaning); Informal/Slang (figurative meaning).
Definition
Meaning
A small, edible, swimming crustacean with a long tail and ten legs, often pink when cooked.
A small, physically weak, or insignificant person (derogatory).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The plural is typically 'shrimp' (zero plural) or 'shrimps', with 'shrimp' being more common for the animal and 'shrimps' sometimes used for individual specimens or the figurative sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK, 'prawn' is often used for larger species, while 'shrimp' typically refers to smaller ones. In US, 'shrimp' is the generic term for all sizes.
Connotations
The figurative insult 'shrimp' is equally understood in both varieties.
Frequency
The word is more frequent in US English due to its status as the default culinary term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to shrimp for [something] (verb)a shrimp of a [person] (noun)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in the seafood, restaurant, and aquaculture industries.
Academic
Used in marine biology and culinary studies.
Everyday
Common in menus, cooking, and casual insults.
Technical
Specific species names (e.g., 'whiteleg shrimp', 'giant tiger prawn').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They went to the estuary to shrimp for their supper.
- He shrimps commercially in the North Sea.
American English
- We used nets to shrimp in the bayou.
- The fleet shrimps off the Gulf Coast.
adjective
British English
- She ordered the shrimp curry.
- The shrimp fishery is heavily regulated.
American English
- He loves shrimp gumbo.
- The shrimp industry is vital to the state's economy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like shrimp.
- The shrimp is small and pink.
- We ate grilled shrimp for dinner.
- He's such a shrimp compared to his brother.
- The recipe calls for two dozen peeled shrimp.
- Despite being a shrimp, he was the toughest player on the team.
- Overfishing has severely impacted native shrimp populations.
- The politician was dismissed as a political shrimp by the media.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHRIMP as something you SHRINK – it's small.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMALL/INSIGNIFICANT IS A SHRIMP (e.g., 'He's a little shrimp').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'креветка' (krеvetka), which is the correct translation. Avoid using 'shrimp' to translate 'рачок' (small crab) or other small crustaceans.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shrimps' as the default plural in all contexts (zero plural is often preferred).
- Confusing 'shrimp' (US default) and 'prawn' (UK for larger varieties) in cross-variety communication.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'prawn' commonly preferred over 'shrimp' for larger species?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'shrimp' and 'shrimps' are correct. 'Shrimp' is more common, especially when referring to the food or animal collectively.
Yes, informally. Calling someone a 'shrimp' means they are small or physically insignificant.
Biologically, they are different suborders. In common usage, especially in the UK, 'prawn' often refers to larger species, while 'shrimp' refers to smaller ones. In the US, 'shrimp' is the default term.
Yes. To 'shrimp' means to fish for shrimp.