spatchcock
/ˈspætʃkɒk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspætʃkɑːk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspachˌkäk/ (ame, mw) · /ˈspætʃ.kɒk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspætʃ.kɑːk/ (ame, ipa)
spatchcock — noun
- spatchcocksingular
- spatchcocksplural
1. a chicken or similar bird opened out and flattened for grilling, or the cooking
a chicken or similar bird opened out and flattened for grilling, or the cooking style that prepares it that way
The butcher sold spatchcock chickens ready for the grill that afternoon.
spatchcock + chicken in food-selling context
A lemon spatchcock arrived at our table with charred green beans.
a + spatchcock as menu item
On Saturday, the menu listed spatchcock with chilli butter and corn.
Our neighbour brought a herb-rubbed spatchcock to the street picnic.
- butterflied chicken
describes the same flattened shape, but is a more transparent phrase than the specialist noun 'spatchcock'
- grilled chicken
broader term; it does not imply the bird was cut open and pressed flat first
文法句型
a + spatchcock
spatchcock + with + sauce/flavouring
用法筆記
In restaurant menus, this noun often names the prepared bird itself. In cookery writing, it can also refer to the method of splitting and flattening the bird before grilling or roasting.
spatchcock — verb
- spatchcockpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spatchcocks3rd person singular
- spatchcocking-ing form
- spatchcockedpast simple
1. to open a whole bird from the back and flatten it before cooking so heat reaches
to open a whole bird from the back and flatten it before cooking so heat reaches it more evenly
Rohan spatchcocked the chicken before rubbing it with smoked paprika.
spatchcock + bird before seasoning
The chef spatchcocks each quail so it cooks evenly over charcoal.
spatchcock + bird so it cooks evenly
Amira asked the butcher to spatchcock the turkey for faster roasting.
At camp, Christopher learned to spatchcock a bird with kitchen shears.
- butterfly
broader cooking verb; it can be used for meat, fish, or prawns, not just birds prepared whole
- split open
describes the cutting action, but does not itself imply pressing the bird flat for cooking
文法句型
spatchcock + bird
spatchcock + bird + for + cooking method
用法筆記
The object is usually a whole chicken, turkey, quail, or another bird. Distinguish from 'butterfly', which is broader and can be used for other cuts of meat or fish.
常見錯誤
2. to force words or other material into a piece of writing or speech as an extra a
to force words or other material into a piece of writing or speech as an extra addition
The editor spatchcocked a legal warning into the final paragraph overnight.
spatchcock + material + into + text
Someone had spatchcocked two Latin phrases into Sophia's school essay.
spatchcock + words into + essay
The speaker spatchcocked a joke into the speech after lunch.
Yara felt the extra statistics were spatchcocked into the report too late.
- insert
neutral and broad; 'spatchcock' adds the idea that the insertion feels clumsy or out of place
- interpolate
more technical term for adding words into a text; 'spatchcock' is more vivid and critical
- shoehorn
informal and broader; it can describe forcing many kinds of things into a limited space or plan
- omit
leave the material out instead of forcing it into the text
文法句型
spatchcock + words/detail + into + text
be spatchcocked + into + speech/report
用法筆記
Usually used critically. It suggests that the added words or details feel awkward, forced, or badly fitted into the surrounding text.