butcher
gb/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ/ us/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ/
A2
English
~ 9000
hentes, levág, feldolgoz, elszúr, elront, mészáros, tömeggyilkos, lemészárol, kontár, kókler
NOUN
A2
1
hentes
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a butcher
My grandfather was a butcher in a small town.
A nagyapám hentes volt egy kisvárosban.
We buy our beef from the local butcher instead of the supermarket.
A marhahúst a helyi hentestől vesszük, nem a szupermarketből.
She asked the butcher to slice the ham very thin.
The new butcher at the market is very friendly.
He trained as a butcher straight after leaving school.
Learner examples
My uncle is a butcher.
A nagybátyám hentes.
We go to the butcher every Saturday.
Minden szombaton elmegyünk a henteshez.
The butcher cuts the meat for us.
I asked the butcher for one kilo of chicken.
The butcher works in a meat shop.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "He is butcher" without an article. In English you usually say "He is a butcher" when talking about someone's job.
Meaning
person who cuts and sells meat
Collocations
local butcher
|family butcher
|butcher shop
|go to the butcher
|master butcher
|the village butcher
Synonyms
meat seller (A simple descriptive phrase; less common as a fixed term than "butcher".)
Antonyms
customer (In a meat shop, the customer is the person buying, not selling, the meat.)
Themes
jobs
|food
|daily life
|food_drink
|work
Definition
A person who works in a shop cutting and selling meat.
A person whose job is to cut up, prepare, and sell meat to customers.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to butcher [an animal]
They butcher their own pigs on the farm every winter.
A farmon minden télen maguk vágják le és dolgozzák fel a disznóikat.
The deer was butchered and stored in the freezer for the rest of the year.
A szarvast feldolgozták, majd az év hátralévő részére eltették a fagyasztóba.
Only trained staff are allowed to butcher animals in the facility.
He learned how to butcher chickens quickly and humanely.
The hunters butchered the elk at a camp table.
Learner examples
Farmers sometimes butcher their own animals.
A gazdák néha maguk vágják le és dolgozzák fel az állataikat.
They butcher the cow and sell the meat.
Levágják a tehenet, és eladják a húst.
He taught his son how to butcher a chicken.
The company butchers many pigs every day.
We sent the lamb to be butchered at the local plant.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "butcher" for any kind of killing of animals or people. For neutral, everyday killing of animals for food, "butcher" or "slaughter" are used. For killing people, "kill" is usually used; "butcher" then sounds very violent and emotional.
Meaning
kill and cut up animals
Collocations
butcher a cow
|butcher the pig
|butcher the carcass
|professionally butchered meat
|butcher and package
|hunt and butcher
Synonyms
slaughter (Focuses on killing animals for food; does not itself include cutting them into pieces as clearly as "butcher" does.)
Antonyms
raise (To keep animals alive and grow them, which is the opposite stage of killing and cutting them for meat.)
Themes
food
|farming
|daily life
|food_drink
|animals
Definition
To kill animals and cut their bodies into pieces of meat that people will eat.
To kill animals and cut their bodies into pieces of meat for food.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to butcher [a task / performance / piece of work]
He completely butchered the song at karaoke and forgot half the words.
Karaokén teljesen elszúrta a dalt, és elfelejtette a szöveg felét.
The translator butchered the speech, and many jokes were lost.
A tolmács teljesen elszúrta a beszéd fordítását, és sok poén elsikkadt.
I really butchered that job interview by talking too fast.
The editor accused the studio of butchering her film in the final cut.
She tried to fix the code but just butchered the whole program.
Learner examples
I butchered my presentation because I was so nervous.
Annyira ideges voltam, hogy teljesen elszúrtam az előadásomat.
He butchered the name and said it in the wrong way.
Elrontotta a nevet, és rosszul ejtette ki.
The new chef butchered the meal and burned everything.
She butchered her lines during the play.
They butchered the report and made many mistakes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense is about killing because of the basic meaning of "butcher". In this informal use, it just means to do something very badly, often about music, speaking, work, or performances.
Meaning
do something very badly
Collocations
butcher a song
|butcher the language
|butcher the script
|butcher the exam
|completely butchered
|butcher the explanation
Synonyms
mess up (Informal and very common; a bit softer and less vivid than "butcher".)
Antonyms
nail (Informal; means to do something very well, which contrasts with doing it very badly.)
Themes
communication
|evaluation
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To do something very badly and spoil it, often because you are careless or not skilled.
To do something in a very bad, clumsy, or careless way, so that it is badly damaged or spoiled.
NOUN
C1
4
mészáros
B2
tömeggyilkos
B2
Usage pattern:
the butcher of [a place / event]
The dictator was remembered as the butcher of his own people.
A diktátorra saját népének mészárosaként emlékeztek.
New evidence linked the general, known as the butcher of the north, to several massacres.
Új bizonyítékok több mészárlással is összefüggésbe hozták a tábornokot, akit az Észak mészárosaként ismertek.
Survivors still fear the man they call the village butcher.
History books describe him as a butcher who showed no mercy.
Protesters shouted that the butcher should be tried for war crimes.
Learner examples
The newspaper called the killer a butcher.
Az újság mészárosnak nevezte a gyilkost.
People in the city know him as the butcher of the capital.
A városban a főváros mészárosaként ismerik.
Many saw the leader as a butcher because he killed so many people.
They want the butcher to go to prison for life.
History will remember this man as a butcher.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the job meaning of "butcher". Here it is a very strong insult for someone who kills people cruelly, often used with "of" plus a place name ("the butcher of X").
Meaning
person who kills cruelly
Collocations
ruthless butcher
|the butcher of [city]
|war-time butcher
|notorious butcher
|political butcher
|a real butcher
Synonyms
mass murderer (A more technical term focusing on the number of victims, without the strong emotional image of "butcher".)
Antonyms
protector (Someone who keeps people safe, which is the opposite of someone known for cruel killing.)
Themes
crime
|violence
|war
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who kills people in a very cruel, violent way, often many people.
A person who kills people in a very cruel or violent way, especially many people or over a period of time.
VERB
C1
5
lemészárol
B2
Usage pattern:
to butcher [people / victims]
The rebels butchered dozens of villagers before fleeing into the hills.
A lázadók több tucat falusit mészároltak le, mielőtt a hegyekbe menekültek.
The regime butchered its opponents to stay in power.
A rezsim lemészárolta az ellenfeleit, hogy hatalmon maradjon.
Witnesses said the soldiers butchered unarmed protesters in the square.
The documentary shows how entire families were butchered during the conflict.
They were brutally butchered in their sleep.
Learner examples
The army butchered many people in the town.
A hadsereg sok embert lemészárolt a városban.
The gang butchered two men in the street.
A banda két férfit mészárolt le az utcán.
The dictator butchered his enemies.
They butchered the prisoners after the fight.
In the war, soldiers butchered many civilians.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "butcher" for any killing. This verb is very strong and emotional and suggests cruel, shocking violence, usually against many people or very helpless victims. For neutral killing, use "kill" instead.
Meaning
kill people very cruelly
Collocations
butcher innocent civilians
|butcher thousands
|butcher his own people
|butcher the prisoners
|brutally butchered
|butchered in cold blood
Synonyms
massacre (Often used for killing many people, especially when they cannot defend themselves; slightly more formal and common in news reports.)
Antonyms
spare (To choose not to kill someone, which contrasts with killing them violently.)
Themes
crime
|violence
|war
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To kill people in a very cruel and violent way, often many people at one time.
To kill people in a very cruel, violent, and often careless way, especially many people at once or over a short time.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
6
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a butcher at [their job]
Whoever repaired this engine was a butcher; everything is loose or broken.
Aki ezt a motort javította, kontár volt; minden lötyög vagy el van törve.
I'm never going back to that hairdresser—she's a complete butcher.
Soha többé nem megyek vissza ahhoz a fodrászhoz – igazi kontár.
The surgeon was called a butcher after several patients were left badly scarred.
That mechanic is a butcher; he ruined my brakes.
You need a real carpenter, not some butcher with a hammer.
Learner examples
The dentist was a butcher and hurt many patients.
A fogorvos kontár volt, és sok páciensnek fájdalmat okozott.
Our last mechanic was a butcher and broke our car.
Az előző szerelőnk kontár volt, és tönkretette az autónkat.
He called the builder a butcher because the work was very bad.
People say that doctor is a butcher.
The hairdresser was a butcher and cut my hair very badly.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this literally and think it means the person sells meat. In informal speech, calling someone a "butcher" can mean they do their job very badly and damage things or hurt people.
Meaning
person who works very badly
Collocations
such a butcher
|a real butcher
|an absolute butcher
|a butcher of a dentist
|that mechanic is a butcher
Synonyms
hack (Informal; suggests a low-quality professional who does poor work, especially in creative or skilled jobs.)
Antonyms
professional (Suggests someone who does careful, skilled work, which contrasts with a "butcher" who ruins things.)
Themes
evaluation
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who does their job very badly and often ruins things, especially when they should be good at it.
A person who does their work in a very bad, careless, or damaging way, especially when they should be skilled.
Grammar
Dictionary form
butcher
IPA
GB/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ/
US/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
butcher (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (butcher)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: butcher
- Plural: butchers
Verb
- Base: butcher
- 3rd Person Singular: butchers
- Present Participle: butchering
- Past: butchered
Word family
Forms
butchers
noun
butchering
verb
butchered
verb
Related words
butchery
noun
Expressions
butcher block
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ blˈɑk/
fixed phrase
thick wooden cutting surface
A thick, heavy wooden surface or table used for cutting food, especially meat.
Examples
- They installed a butcher block countertop in their new kitchen.
- The old butcher block in the shop is covered in knife marks.
- She chopped the vegetables on a small butcher block by the sink.
butcher knife
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ nˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
large knife for meat
A large, heavy knife used for cutting meat into pieces.
Examples
- He used a butcher knife to cut the roast into thick slices.
- The butcher knife should be kept very sharp for clean cuts.
- She put the butcher knife back on the magnetic strip above the counter.
butcher paper
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ pˈeɪpɚ/
fixed phrase
thick paper for wrapping meat
Thick, plain paper that is used to wrap meat or for crafts and drawing.
Examples
- The steaks were wrapped in white butcher paper.
- Teachers often use butcher paper for classroom posters.
- He covered the table with butcher paper before the kids started painting.
butcher shop
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ ʃˈɑp/
fixed phrase
shop where meat is sold
A shop where a butcher sells meat.
Examples
- We stopped at the butcher shop to buy some steak for dinner.
- There used to be a small butcher shop on this corner before the supermarket opened.
- My parents still prefer the butcher shop to big grocery stores.
butcher up
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
cut roughly into pieces
To cut something into pieces in a rough, careless way, often making it look bad.
Examples
- He butchered up the chicken before throwing it on the grill.
- The old couch was butchered up and taken out in small pieces.
- She butchered up the fabric and ruined the pattern.
butcher's bill
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚz bˈɪl/
idiom
literary
number of deaths and injuries
The number of people who were killed or hurt in a battle, accident, or other violent event.
Examples
- The final butcher's bill from the battle shocked the nation.
- Politicians tried to hide the true butcher's bill of the war.
- After the storm, the butcher's bill was lower than many had feared.
butcher's shop
1/bˈʊt͡ʃɚz ʃˈɑp/
fixed phrase
shop for cutting and selling meat
A shop where meat is cut and sold, usually by a butcher.
Examples
- She works in a butcher's shop on the high street.
- The smell from the butcher's shop filled the whole market.
- He inherited the family butcher's shop from his father.
have a butcher's
1/hˈæv ə bˈʊt͡ʃɚz/
idiom
slang
take a quick look
(Mainly British slang) To have a quick look at something.
Examples
- Come over here and have a butcher's at this photo.
- Mind if I have a butcher's at your new phone?
- He leaned over to have a butcher's at the score on her screen.
the butcher's
1/ðə bˈʊt͡ʃɚz/
fixed phrase
the butcher’s shop
The butcher's shop; the place where the butcher sells meat.
Examples
- I'm going to the butcher's to get some lamb.
- She works down at the butcher's on Main Street.
- We usually buy our sausages at the butcher's rather than at the supermarket.