loaf
A single bread unit
One whole bread shape that is baked in one piece and then cut into slices; sometimes also a similar shape of meat or cake.
a loaf of [bread/food]
- She picked up a warm loaf of bread from the bakery on her way home.
- Bake the dough in a tin until it forms a golden loaf.
- He cut the loaf into thick slices for the sandwiches.
- We always keep a spare loaf in the freezer.
- The recipe makes one large loaf or two small ones.
- I bought a loaf of bread at the store.
- Please put the loaf on the table.
- This loaf is very soft inside and hard outside.
- We ate a whole loaf with soup.
- She made a loaf in a small pan.
Waste time doing nothing
To relax and do nothing useful, often for a long time, instead of working or being active.
to loaf [around/about] [somewhere]
- We spent the afternoon loafing around the park, talking and people-watching.
- Instead of studying, he just loafed about in front of the TV all weekend.
- They like to loaf around the café for hours after lunch.
- I felt too tired to do anything, so I loafed the day away on the sofa.
- Stop loafing about and give me a hand with the dishes.
- He likes to loaf around on Sunday.
- We just loafed about at home all day.
- I don’t want to loaf; I want to do something.
- She loafed around the mall with her friends.
- They loafed in the living room and watched videos.
Head or brain (slang)
A slang word in British English for your head or brain, usually only in the phrase “use your loaf”.
use your loaf
- Come on, use your loaf and check the map before we set off.
- If you used your loaf, you wouldn’t keep making the same mistake.
- He finally used his loaf and asked for help instead of guessing.
- In British English, people say “Use your loaf” to mean “Use your brain.”
- My friend told me to use my loaf and think first.
- “Use your loaf” is an informal way to say “think.”
- Base: loaf
- Plural: loaf, loaves
- Base: loaf
- 3rd Person Singular: loafs
- Present Participle: loafing
- Past: loafed
half a loaf is better than none
1Some is better than nothing
It is better to get part of what you want than to get nothing at all.
- My raise was small, but half a loaf is better than none.
- We didn’t win, but half a loaf is better than none — at least we got a draw.
loaf about
1Be idle without purpose
To stay in a place without doing any real work or having a clear reason, just passing time.
- The teenagers loafed about the shopping centre after school.
- He spent the summer loafing about instead of getting a job.
loaf around
1Hang around doing nothing
To spend time in a place doing very little or no work, usually relaxing and not being productive.
- They loafed around the house all day watching movies.
- I don’t want to loaf around the office; I want a real project.
- We just loafed around on the beach until sunset.
loaf of bread
1One whole bread unit
One whole bread that is baked in one piece and can be cut into slices.
- She bought a loaf of bread to make toast for breakfast.
- We need another loaf of bread if more guests are coming.
- There’s half a loaf of bread left on the counter.
use your loaf
1Think, don’t be stupid
To think carefully and sensibly before you do or say something, instead of doing something stupid.
- Use your loaf and lock the door when you leave.
- If you used your loaf, you wouldn’t fall for these scams.
- Come on, use your loaf — it’s obviously a bad idea.