peanuts

Everyday

1. Small oval seeds that grow in pods under the ground, eaten roasted or as peanut butter. tree →
2. (informal) A very small amount of money. tree →

In the lessons

In science, peanuts are not true nuts: they are legumes, related to peas and beans, and the pods grow underground. In safety, peanut allergy can be very dangerous; many schools are nut-free, and some people need an adrenaline (epinephrine) pen. Never share food with a friend who has an allergy, and check labels. Phrases: «peanut butter», «salted peanuts», «work for peanuts», «peanut allergy».

Examples

• I love peanut butter sandwiches. tree →
• Peanuts grow underground in pods. tree →
• Our school is nut-free because some children are allergic to peanuts. tree →
• Salted peanuts make you thirsty. tree →
• Elephants in cartoons eat peanuts, but that is not their real diet. tree →
• He works hard but gets paid peanuts. tree →
• Read the label to check for peanuts. tree →
• Peanuts are legumes, like peas and beans. tree →

Note

Countable: one peanut, two peanuts. Also called «groundnuts» or «monkey nuts». Trap: a peanut is not a true nut, but people with nut allergies often must avoid peanuts too. In maths, «peanuts» means a tiny sum.