shrimp

Everyday

1. A shrimp is a small sea animal with a shell, a long tail and many legs; many are eaten as food. tree →
2. (informal, teasing) A shrimp is a very small person. tree →
3. To shrimp is to catch shrimps. tree →

In the lessons

In science, shrimps are crustaceans, food for whales and fish. In everyday life, shrimp are cooked and eaten; in Australia «shrimp» is less used — they say «prawn». As a teasing name for a small child. Phrases: «shrimp cocktail», «go shrimping», «you little shrimp».

Examples

• We caught shrimps in a net at the beach. tree →
• Whales eat tiny shrimp-like krill. tree →
• Dad cooked shrimp for dinner. tree →
• «Come here, you little shrimp!» laughed my big brother. tree →
• Some shrimps can change colour. tree →
• Shrimps belong to the same group as crabs and lobsters. tree →
• ‘You wretched little shrimp,’ replied Hans, ‘a great deal of good your gratitude is likely to do me! tree →

Note

Plural: shrimp or shrimps (both used). In the UK and Australia, bigger ones are called prawns; in the USA, nearly all are called shrimp. Calling someone a shrimp is teasing about size.