shrimp
small sea animal eaten as food
A small sea animal with a shell and many legs that people often eat.
- We ordered grilled shrimp with lemon and garlic for dinner.
- Most people in the group were allergic to shrimp, so we chose another restaurant.
- They served a pasta dish loaded with shrimp and fresh tomatoes.
- The fishermen brought in buckets of live shrimp from the bay.
- She bought a bag of frozen shrimp to make stir‑fry later.
- I like to eat shrimp with rice.
- They cooked fresh shrimp on the grill.
- He cannot eat shrimp because he has an allergy.
- We put shrimp in the soup.
- My mother bought shrimp at the market.
very small or weak person (insult)
A rude word for a person who is very short or not strong.
- He used to be a real shrimp in high school, but he filled out after he started lifting weights.
- Stop calling your little brother a shrimp; it hurts his feelings.
- Standing next to the basketball team, I felt like a shrimp.
- The bully laughed and said, "What can a shrimp like you do about it?"
- She was tired of being treated like a shrimp just because she was short.
- The tall boys called him a shrimp because he was small.
- Next to my big cousins, I feel like a shrimp.
- Do not call her a shrimp. It is not kind.
- He was a shrimp in school, but now he is strong.
- They laughed at the little shrimp in the story.
catch shrimp commercially or for work
To catch shrimp, usually as work on a boat.
[someone] shrimps [in/around a place]
- His family has shrimped in these waters for three generations.
- Many local boats shrimp along the coast during the summer season.
- They shrimp at night, when the catch is usually better.
- Fewer people shrimp here now because fuel costs are so high.
- The company holds a license to shrimp in the bay year‑round.
- Her father shrimped on a small boat for many years.
- Some people shrimp at night and rest in the day.
- They shrimp in the gulf every summer.
- Many boats shrimp near this town.
- He wants to shrimp with his uncle when he is older.
coconut shrimp
1fried shrimp in coconut coating
Shrimp that are covered in shredded coconut, then fried until crispy, usually served as an appetizer or snack.
- We ordered coconut shrimp with a sweet chili sauce.
- Coconut shrimp is a popular item on the beach bar menu.
- She served coconut shrimp as a starter at the barbecue.
jumbo shrimp
1very large shrimp for eating
Very big shrimp that are usually sold or served as a special or more expensive type of shrimp.
- We shared a plate of grilled jumbo shrimp for our main course.
- The restaurant is famous for its spicy jumbo shrimp.
- She bought a bag of frozen jumbo shrimp for the party.
shrimp fried rice
1fried rice dish with shrimp
A fried rice dish that has shrimp, egg, and usually vegetables, often served in Chinese or Asian-style restaurants.
- He ordered shrimp fried rice and spring rolls for lunch.
- The menu offers chicken, beef, or shrimp fried rice.
- She cooked shrimp fried rice with leftover rice from yesterday.
shrimp on the barbie
1shrimp cooked on a barbecue
Shrimp cooked on a barbecue grill, often used as a playful phrase connected with Australian-style outdoor cooking.
- They spent the afternoon putting shrimp on the barbie by the pool.
- The ad invited tourists to come and enjoy "shrimp on the barbie."
- We threw some shrimp on the barbie and watched the sunset.
shrimp scampi
1shrimp in garlic butter sauce
A dish where shrimp are cooked in a sauce of butter, garlic, and often white wine, usually served with pasta or bread.
- I had shrimp scampi over linguine at the Italian restaurant.
- She made shrimp scampi with lots of garlic and lemon.
- Shrimp scampi is one of his favorite seafood dishes.
shrimp cocktail
1cold shrimp appetizer with sauce
A cold dish of cooked shrimp served with a spicy tomato or cocktail sauce, usually as a starter before a meal.
- We ordered shrimp cocktail as an appetizer.
- He ordered a shrimp cocktail as his appetizer.
- The party started with shrimp cocktail and sparkling wine.
- The restaurant is famous for its large shrimp cocktail.
- She made individual shrimp cocktails in small glasses for her guests.
- They served shrimp cocktail at the beginning of the wedding dinner.