spare tire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-High (everyday term for the object); Medium (colloquial for excess fat)Informal, colloquial for both meanings. The object sense can be used neutrally; the body fat sense is casual/humorous.
Quick answer
What does “spare tire” mean?
A physical object: a spare wheel carried in a vehicle for use in case of a flat tire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A physical object: a spare wheel carried in a vehicle for use in case of a flat tire.
A colloquial term for excess fat carried around the waist or midsection, likening its appearance to an inner tube or tire. In UK English, the primary physical object is spelled 'spare tyre'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK 'spare tyre', US 'spare tire'. The metaphorical meaning is used in both varieties, but the US spelling applies for the object. The term for the object is sometimes called a 'spare wheel' more formally in the UK.
Connotations
The metaphorical sense carries the same mildly humorous, informal, sometimes self-critical connotation in both dialects.
Frequency
Both the literal and figurative meanings are common in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “spare tire” in a Sentence
[subject] has/needs/changes a spare tire[subject] is carrying/developing a spare tire (fig.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spare tire” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Make sure the spare tyre is properly inflated before a long journey.
- He joked that lockdown had given him a bit of a spare tyre.
- The car comes with a full-size spare tyre under the boot floor.
American English
- I had to pull over and put on the spare tire.
- She's been running to try and lose that spare tire.
- Most modern cars only come with a temporary 'donut' spare tire.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in automotive sales/service contexts.
Academic
Very rare, except in specific automotive engineering or human biology contexts.
Everyday
Very common for the object. Common informal term for abdominal fat.
Technical
In automotive manuals: 'spare tire/wheel' or 'emergency tire'. In fitness/health: informal, not clinical.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spare tire”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spare tire”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spare tire”
- Using 'spare tire' in formal writing to describe body fat. Confusing 'tire' (US) with 'tyre' (UK) in writing. Misinterpreting the phrase in context (object vs. body).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and humorous. It can be offensive if used to describe someone else without their consent, but is often used self-deprecatingly.
A 'donut' is a specific type of temporary, compact spare tire, smaller than a standard tire, designed for short-distance use. 'Spare tire' is the general term.
No, it is exclusively a noun phrase.
Both are correct, but they are regional. 'Tire' is American English. 'Tyre' is British (and Commonwealth) English. The metaphorical sense typically follows the regional spelling for the object.
A physical object: a spare wheel carried in a vehicle for use in case of a flat tire.
Spare tire is usually informal, colloquial for both meanings. the object sense can be used neutrally; the body fat sense is casual/humorous. in register.
Spare tire: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspeə ˈtaɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspɛr ˈtaɪər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have a spare tire around one's waist/middle.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a car with a flat tire. The driver pulls out a spare tire from the boot. Later, he pats his round stomach and jokes, 'I've got my own spare tire right here!'
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A VEHICLE / EXCESS BODY FAT IS A SUPERFLUOUS OBJECT. The midsection is likened to a wheel needing an extra, unused tire wrapped around it.
Practice
Quiz
In an informal conversation, if someone says 'I need to lose my spare tire,' what do they most likely mean?