smorgasbord
B2Informal to neutral, occasionally literary in extended use.
Definition
Meaning
A buffet offering a variety of hot and cold dishes.
A wide range or variety of things; a diverse assortment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often capitalised when referring specifically to the Swedish-style meal. The extended meaning of 'diverse assortment' is common and metaphorical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar. The word is recognised in both varieties but might be considered slightly more sophisticated or niche in everyday UK conversation compared to the US, where buffet culture is widespread. The extended, metaphorical use is equally common.
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of abundance, choice, and Scandinavian origin. In the US, it may more immediately evoke specific restaurant chains or styles.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the popularity of buffet-style dining. The metaphorical use is stable in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] a smorgasbord of [noun][adjective] smorgasbordVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A smorgasbord of [something]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a range of services, products, or investment options.
Academic
Used in cultural studies, sociology, or literature to describe a diverse mix of influences, ideas, or data.
Everyday
Used literally for a buffet meal or metaphorically for any wide selection (e.g., TV channels, food at a party).
Technical
Rare in technical contexts unless specifically discussing hospitality, cuisine, or as a metaphor for modular systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The festival smorgasbords a range of musical genres from folk to electronica.
American English
- The new policy smorgasbords various approaches without a clear focus.
adjective
British English
- They adopted a smorgasbord approach to curriculum design, picking elements from different systems.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We ate lunch from the smorgasbord.
- The hotel breakfast was a huge smorgasbord with fruits, cereals, and hot food.
- The conference offered a veritable smorgasbord of workshops on different topics.
- His latest novel is a smorgasbord of literary styles, blending magic realism with hard-boiled detective fiction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'SMall ORGAnisation's Board' meeting with a huge spread of food—a smorgasbord.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS A FEAST / VARIETY IS A BUFFET.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not directly equivalent to 'шведский стол' (Swedish table) in all contexts. The Russian term is almost exclusively literal, while 'smorgasbord' is frequently metaphorical in English.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'smorgasboard', 'smorgasbord'.
- Incorrect capitalisation when not referring specifically to the Swedish tradition.
- Using it only literally and missing its common metaphorical application.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'smorgasbord' correctly in its metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its original and literal meaning refers to a buffet meal, its most common use today is often metaphorical, meaning a wide, diverse range or assortment of non-food items (e.g., ideas, styles, options).
'Smorgasbord' specifically denotes a Scandinavian-style buffet, often featuring pickled herring, cured salmon, meats, cheeses, and breads. 'Buffet' is the general term. In metaphorical use, 'smorgasbord' can imply more eclectic variety than 'buffet'.
In British English: /ˈsmɔːɡəsbɔːd/ (SMOR-guhs-bord). In American English: /ˈsmɔːrɡəsbɔːrd/ (SMOR-guhs-bord). The first 'g' is hard as in 'get'.
Rarely and informally. Such use is considered non-standard or stylistic (e.g., "The article smorgasbords various theories"). It is not accepted in formal writing.
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