mince
mince — noun
1. meat that has been reduced to tiny fragments by grinding or chopping; in British
meat that has been reduced to tiny fragments by grinding or chopping; in British cooking the word usually refers to beef used in dishes like pies, pasta sauces and burgers.
Yara bought a pack of mince from the supermarket to make spaghetti Bolognese.
uncountable noun: 'a pack of mince'
The recipe requires five hundred grams of beef mince for the pie filling.
Vikram shaped the mince into small balls and dropped them into the hot soup.
Bao mixed the mince with breadcrumbs and an egg before frying the patties.
- ground beef
American English term for the same product, especially when made from beef
- chopped meat
less common; describes the form rather than being a standard product name
用法筆記
In the UK and Commonwealth countries, 'mince' usually refers to beef mince, while in the US the equivalent product is called 'ground beef.' This noun has no plural form.
常見錯誤
mince — verb
- mincepresent simple I / you / we / they
- minceshe / she / it
- mincedpast simple
- mincing-ing form
1. to take tiny, delicate steps when walking, producing a movement that appears dai
to take tiny, delicate steps when walking, producing a movement that appears dainty or deliberately unnatural — the walker often seems to be trying to attract notice.
The actor minced across the stage in a deliberately exaggerated way that made the audience laugh.
intransitive: 'mince across [place]'
Paloma watched her aunt mince down the garden path in tight-fitting shoes.
The dancers minced forward with tiny, careful steps during the slow opening scene.
Yara minced through the doorway carrying a full teapot and trying not to spill a drop.
- stride
to walk with long, confident steps, the opposite of short dainty ones
用法筆記
This sense often carries a critical or mocking tone — it suggests the walk looks affected rather than natural. Commonly used to describe theatrical or exaggerated movements.
常見錯誤
2. to break solid food down into a fine crumb-like texture with a knife or kitchen
to break solid food down into a fine crumb-like texture with a knife or kitchen appliance — cooks typically mince meat, garlic, onions or herbs for recipes.
Fatima minced the garlic finely before adding it to the hot pan with the oil.
transitive: 'mince + object + adverb (finely)'
You should mince the onion and the carrot for the sauce base.
Rafael used the food processor to mince the chicken breast in just a few seconds.
The chef showed Arjun how to mince the herbs with a sharp knife and steady hand.
Akira minced the leftover lamb and mixed it with potato for the pastries.
用法筆記
In British English the machine used for this task is called a 'mincer'; in American English it is called a 'meat grinder' or 'food grinder.' The past participle 'minced' is commonly used as an adjective (e.g., 'minced beef,' 'minced garlic').
常見錯誤
3. to avoid saying something directly so as not to offend or upset someone; the phr
to avoid saying something directly so as not to offend or upset someone; the phrase 'not mince words' means to speak in a brutally honest and direct way without trying to be polite.
Kemi did not mince words when she told the board that the project had failed completely.
negative construction: 'did not mince words'
Diego never minces his words — if he thinks your plan has problems, he says so plainly.
The manager minced no words in the meeting, pointing out every mistake the team had made.
"I will not mince words," said Ines, "this company needs urgent reform or it will go under."
- soften
broader meaning; can apply to any kind of tone or impact, not just speech
- sugar-coat
informal; means to make something unpleasant seem more pleasant
- speak one's mind
to say honestly what you think, without holding back
用法筆記
This verb is almost always found in negative structures ('not mince words' or 'mince no words'). Affirmative uses ('He minced his words') are extremely rare in modern English. The phrase carries a tone of deliberate bluntness, not rudeness.