cutlery

Everyday

Cutlery is the knives, forks and spoons you use for eating and serving food. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life children set the table with cutlery and learn table manners: fork in the left hand, knife in the right (in the UK), or cutting and then switching (in the USA). In safety, sharp knives are handled with care. Phrases: set the cutlery, plastic cutlery, cutlery drawer, a piece of cutlery.

Examples

• Please put the cutlery on the table. tree →
• The cutlery is in the top drawer. tree →
• We used plastic cutlery at the picnic. tree →
• Wash the cutlery after dinner. tree →
• Knives, forks and spoons are all cutlery. tree →
• Hold your cutlery properly at the table. tree →
• A piece of cutlery fell on the floor. tree →

Note

Uncountable: no «a», no plural (some cutlery, a piece of cutlery). Mostly British; Americans often say «silverware» or «flatware». Spelling: cut-ler-y.