prawn

gb/pɹˈɔn/ us/pɹˈɔn/

B1 English

garnélarák, jó testű, de csúnya arcú ember

NOUN B1

garnélarák B1

Usage pattern:

[eat/cook] prawns

We had garlic prawns with rice for dinner.

Vacsorára fokhagymás garnélarákot ettünk rizzsel.

She bought a bag of frozen prawns to make a quick pasta.

Vett egy zacskó fagyasztott garnélarákot, hogy gyorsan összedobjon egy tésztát.

These prawns are already peeled and cooked.

Learner examples

I like prawns in soup.

Szeretem a garnélarákot levesben.

We are cooking prawns tonight.

Ma este garnélarákot készítünk.

Common mistake:

Learners often confuse prawn and shrimp; in everyday use they are often treated as the same food, especially across different English varieties.

Meaning

a shrimp-like seafood

Collocations

Synonyms

shrimp (More common in American English for the same food.)

Themes

food_and_drink |cooking |animals |seafood

Definition

A prawn is a small sea animal that people cook and eat.

A small sea animal with a shell and many legs that is eaten as food; in British and some other varieties of English, this word is often used where American English uses shrimp.

NOUN C1 SLANG

jó testű, de csúnya arcú ember C1

Usage pattern:

call [someone] a prawn

That word is pretty rude—calling someone a 'prawn' is an insult.

Ez a szó elég durva: sértés valakit „prawn”-nak, vagyis jó testű, de csúnya arcú embernek nevezni.

In some Aussie slang, 'prawn' refers to someone with a great body but an unattractive face.

Egyes ausztrál szlengben a „prawn” olyan emberre utal, akinek jó teste van, de nem vonzó az arca.

Common mistake:

This is region-specific slang and can be insulting; avoid using it unless you understand the context well.

Meaning

person with ugly face, nice body

Collocations

call someone a prawn |such a prawn

Synonyms

butterface (Similar slang meaning, but more explicit and can be more offensive.)

Antonyms

beauty (A person considered attractive overall.)

Themes

people |appearance |slang

Definition

In some slang, a prawn is someone with a nice body but an unattractive face.

(Australian and New Zealand slang) A person considered physically attractive in body but unattractive in face.

Grammar

Dictionary form

prawn

IPA

GB/pɹˈɔn/

US/pɹˈɔn/

Syllables & stress

prawn (1 syllable)

Stress on 1st syllable (prawn)

Word forms

Noun

Base: prawn
Plural: prawn, prawns

Word family

Forms

prawns noun

Related words

shrimp noun A2 shellfish noun

Expressions

king prawn

/kˈɪŋ pɹˈɔn/

fixed phrase

large prawn used in cooking

A king prawn is a large prawn.

Examples

The salad comes with grilled king prawns.
She made a spicy king prawn stir-fry.

Learner examples

These are king prawns.

prawn cocktail

/pɹˈɔn kˈɑktˌeɪl/

fixed phrase

starter with prawns and sauce

A prawn cocktail is a cold dish of prawns with a creamy sauce.

Examples

I’ll start with the prawn cocktail, please.
Prawn cocktail was a popular party starter in the 1970s.

Learner examples

We ordered a prawn cocktail.

prawn crackers

/pɹˈɔn kɹˈækɚz/

fixed phrase

crispy snack served with Asian food

Prawn crackers are crispy snacks that taste like prawns.

Examples

They brought prawn crackers while we waited for the main dishes.
I always snack on prawn crackers with sweet chili sauce.

Learner examples

I like prawn crackers.

the prawn sandwich brigade

/ðə pɹˈɔn sˈændwɪt͡ʃ bɹɪɡˈeɪd/

idiom informal

wealthy, corporate sports spectators

People at a sports event who are there for VIP food and networking, not for the sport.

Examples

Fans complained that ticket prices were pushing out locals and bringing in the prawn sandwich brigade.
He joked that the stadium was full of the prawn sandwich brigade in the corporate seats.

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