toast
B1Neutral/Informal
Definition
Meaning
Sliced bread browned by heat.
A call to drink in honor of someone/something; a person who is the focus of praise or attention; to heat bread until brown.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun (food/drink tribute). As a verb, chiefly means to brown bread or to honor with a drink. The 'person who is popular/famous' sense is informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference in UK for 'toast' as a countable item ('two toasts' vs. US 'two pieces of toast'). The verb for crisping bread is identical. The 'drink in honor' sense is equally common.
Connotations
Informal 'toast' meaning 'in trouble' ('you're toast!') originated in US but is now common in both. The 'popular person' sense ('toast of the town') is slightly more literary/formal.
Frequency
Food sense is extremely high frequency in both. Ceremonial/drink sense is medium frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
toast [sth] (V+O)toast [sb] (V+O)toast to [sb/sth] (V+PP)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “toast of the town”
- “you're toast!”
- “warm as toast”
- “have someone on toast (UK informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company's reputation is toast.'
Academic
Rare; possibly in historical/social contexts re: ceremonial drinking.
Everyday
Very high frequency for food; medium for ceremonial drinking.
Technical
Not typical.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- She ordered beans on toast for lunch.
- The Duke was the toast of London society.
- I'd like to propose a toast to the happy couple.
American English
- I had eggs and toast for breakfast.
- After that winning goal, he was the toast of the campus.
- He raised his glass for a toast.
verb
British English
- Could you toast the teacakes while I brew the tea?
- We shall toast the King with a fine port.
American English
- I'll toast the bagel for you.
- Let's toast our new partnership with champagne.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat toast with jam every morning.
- The bread is in the toaster.
- Would you like some butter on your toast?
- They all drank a toast to the newlyweds.
- Overnight, she became the toast of the art world.
- If you fail this test, you're toast.
- The senator's career was toast after the scandal broke.
- The play's witty dialogue had the audience eating out of the author's hand, making her the toast of Broadway.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TOAST = 'Taken Out And Subjected To' heat.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS HEAT/WARMTH (toast of the town); FAILURE/DESTRUCTION IS BURNT FOOD (you're toast).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'тост' (only the ceremonial speech/drink sense). Russian lacks a direct single word for the food item 'toast', using 'поджаренный хлеб'. Avoid using 'toast' for the food sense when speaking Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'toast' uncountably when referring to multiple slices ('I ate two toasts' – UK acceptable, US odd). Confusing verb object: 'toast *for* the bride' (incorrect) vs. 'toast *to* the bride' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'toast' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with variation. For the food item, UK English often accepts 'two toasts' meaning two slices/pieces. US English strongly prefers 'two pieces/slices of toast'. For the ceremonial sense, it's always countable ('a few toasts were offered').
'Toast' typically applies to browning bread or similar baked goods with dry, radiant heat. 'Roast' involves cooking meat, vegetables, etc., often with oil/fat, in an oven or over a fire. A 'roast' can also be a comedic tribute speech.
It is informal and can be playful among friends, but it is dismissive and can be rude if said seriously to someone in a position of authority or in a formal context. It means 'you are finished' or 'you are in serious trouble'.
A chiefly British dining accessory, often made of metal or silver, with vertical partitions for holding slices of toast upright so they stay crisp and don't become soggy from steam.