treacle

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) A thick, sticky, dark sweet syrup made when sugar is refined; black treacle is very dark, golden syrup is a light kind. Americans call it molasses. tree →
2. Something too sweet or sentimental, like a soppy speech. tree →

In the lessons

Treacle is used in baking: treacle tart, gingerbread, parkin, sticky toffee pudding. In Alice in Wonderland, the Dormouse tells a story about three sisters who lived at the bottom of a treacle-well and drew treacle; Alice thinks it is nonsense. «Treacle-well» is a real old phrase for a healing spring. Phrases: «black treacle», «treacle tart», «as slow as treacle».

Examples

• Harry Potter's favourite pudding is treacle tart. tree →
• Mum added a spoonful of black treacle to the gingerbread. tree →
• The three little sisters lived at the bottom of a treacle-well. tree →
• The mud was as thick as treacle. tree →
• Americans call treacle molasses. tree →
• My hands were sticky with treacle. tree →
• The Dormouse said the sisters were learning to draw treacle. tree →
• Here he was invited to take a mug of brown beer with treacle and sugar. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «some treacle», not «a treacle». In the UK golden syrup and treacle are related but not the same. In the US the word is molasses. A «treacly» film is too sweet and sentimental.