gravy

Everyday

1. Gravy is a hot brown sauce made from the juices of cooked meat, often thickened with flour, poured over meat, potatoes and other food. tree →
2. In the southern USA, gravy can also be a white creamy sauce served with biscuits. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, gravy is part of a roast dinner in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and of Thanksgiving and other meals in the USA and Canada. In Canada, poutine is chips with cheese curds and gravy. «Gravy train» is an informal phrase for an easy way to get money. Phrases: pour the gravy, gravy boat, meat and gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Examples

• Please pass the gravy. tree →
• Grandma made gravy from the juices of the roast chicken. tree →
• I like mashed potatoes with lots of gravy. tree →
• The gravy was too thick, so Dad added some water. tree →
• We put the gravy in a little jug called a gravy boat. tree →
• Poutine is chips with cheese curds and gravy. tree →
• Be careful: hot gravy can burn your tongue. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «some gravy», not «a gravy». Different from «sauce», which can be cold or sweet; gravy is usually savoury and hot. Vegetarian gravy is made without meat juices.