prawn
gb/pɹˈɔn/ us/pɹˈɔn/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
a shrimp-like seafood
A prawn is a small sea animal that people cook and eat.
Usage pattern:
[eat/cook] prawns
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse prawn and shrimp; in everyday use they are often treated as the same food, especially across different English varieties.
Synonyms
shrimp (More common in American English for the same food.)
Collocations
fresh prawns
|raw prawns
|cooked prawns
|peeled prawns
|frozen prawns
|king prawns
|tiger prawns
|garlic prawns
|grilled prawns
|prawn curry
Themes
food_and_drink
|cooking
|animals
|seafood
Examples
- We had garlic prawns with rice for dinner.
- She bought a bag of frozen prawns to make a quick pasta.
- These prawns are already peeled and cooked.
Learner examples
- I like prawns in soup.
- We are cooking prawns tonight.
Noun
slang
C1
role
2
person with ugly face, nice body
In some slang, a prawn is someone with a nice body but an unattractive face.
Usage pattern:
call [someone] a prawn
Common mistake:
This is region-specific slang and can be insulting; avoid using it unless you understand the context well.
Synonyms
butterface (Similar slang meaning, but more explicit and can be more offensive.)
Antonyms
beauty (A person considered attractive overall.)
Collocations
call someone a prawn
|such a prawn
Themes
people
|appearance
|slang
Examples
- That word is pretty rude—calling someone a 'prawn' is an insult.
- In some Aussie slang, 'prawn' refers to someone with a great body but an unattractive 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
1/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.
prawn cocktail
1/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.
prawn crackers
1/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.
the prawn sandwich brigade
1/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.