toast
/təʊst/ (bre, ipa) · /təʊst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtōst/ (ame, mw) · /toʊst/ (ame, ipa)
toast — noun
- toastsingular
- toastsplural
1. bread slices that turn brown and crunchy on the outside when put under strong he
bread slices that turn brown and crunchy on the outside when put under strong heat.
Meera dipped her toast into the soft-boiled egg.
collocation: dip toast into [food]
The smell of burnt toast filled the entire kitchen.
Hana ate two slices of toast with jam for her breakfast.
This toaster can make four pieces of toast at once.
Otis prefers his toast with a thin layer of butter.
- toasted bread
more formal; often used on menus
- fried bread
cooked in fat rather than dry heat; different texture
文法句型
piece / slice of toast
make / burn / eat toast
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the food — 'a toast' is incorrect. Say 'a piece of toast' or 'a slice of toast'.
常見錯誤
2. a short ceremony at a social gathering where people raise their glasses and drin
a short ceremony at a social gathering where people raise their glasses and drink together to express respect, good wishes, or celebration for someone or something.
Piotr proposed a toast to his parents at their anniversary dinner.
phrase: propose a toast to
The guests raised their glasses for a toast to the newlyweds.
Salma made a short speech before leading the toast.
Everyone stood up and joined in the toast for the retiring teacher.
Let me offer a toast to our wonderful host this evening.
文法句型
propose / make / offer a toast to [someone]
用法筆記
Often follows 'propose', 'make', 'offer', or 'drink'. The person being honored is introduced by 'to': 'a toast to the bride'. The host typically gives a short speech before everyone drinks.
常見錯誤
3. someone that a particular group or community greatly admires and holds in high r
someone that a particular group or community greatly admires and holds in high regard for what they have done.
Asher became the toast of the film festival after winning the top prize.
pattern: the toast of [event/place]
The young chef was the toast of the neighborhood after she opened her restaurant.
Chiara was the toast of the art world after her solo show sold out.
Their first album made them the toast of the music scene overnight.
文法句型
the toast of [place/field/group]
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed expression 'the toast of [place/group]'. The word 'toast' in this sense comes from the historical practice of honoring someone by drinking to their health. Widely used in entertainment and arts journalism.
常見錯誤
4. a situation where a person or thing is certain to fail, be destroyed, or get int
a situation where a person or thing is certain to fail, be destroyed, or get into serious trouble — for example, a student caught cheating before an exam, or a project discovered to have a major flaw.
If the manager finds out you broke the machine, you're toast.
informal: be toast = be in serious trouble
With no battery left and a storm coming, the hikers knew they were toast.
After the boss saw the leaked report, the project was toast.
One wrong move in that negotiation and our deal is toast.
文法句型
[be] toast
用法筆記
Highly informal. Only used as a predicate after 'be' — never before a noun ('a toast situation' is wrong). Similar in feel to 'done for' or 'finished'. Common in casual speech, movies, and TV dialogue.
常見錯誤
toast — verb
- toastpresent simple I / you / we / they
- toasts3rd person singular
- toasting-ing form
- toastedpast simple
1. to apply heat to bread, nuts, or similar foods so the outside turns brown and be
to apply heat to bread, nuts, or similar foods so the outside turns brown and becomes firm.
Tamar toasted two slices of brown bread for her lunch.
pattern: toast + quantity + [food] + for [meal]
The recipe says to toast the nuts in a dry pan for three minutes.
pattern: toast + [food] + in [tool] + for [time]
Elena toasted the bread roll and spread butter on both halves.
You can toast the bread under the grill or in a toaster.
Ayana toasted marshmallows over the fire until they turned golden.
文法句型
toast + [food]
toast + [food] + in/under/over + [tool/heat source]
用法筆記
The most common object is bread, but it also works with nuts, seeds, marshmallows, and certain cold sandwiches. Intransitive use ('the bread is toasting') is possible but less common.
常見錯誤
2. to get warm, especially a specific part of the body, by staying close to a fire
to get warm, especially a specific part of the body, by staying close to a fire or other source of heat.
After a walk in the snow, they sat by the fireplace to toast their feet.
pattern: toast + body part + by/near [heat]
The skiers were toasting themselves by the fire after a cold day on the mountain.
Tuan toasted his hands on the radiator while waiting for the bus.
Michael held his palms out and toasted them at the campfire.
文法句型
toast + [body part] + by/near + [heat source]
toast + [oneself] + by + [heat source]
用法筆記
Less common than the food sense. Typically collocates with body parts ('feet', 'hands', 'back') or reflexive pronoun ('toast yourself'). Common in descriptions of cold-weather scenes.
常見錯誤
3. to lift a glass of drink, often with other people, and take a sip to show admira
to lift a glass of drink, often with other people, and take a sip to show admiration or good wishes toward someone or something.
The guests stood up to toast the newly married couple.
pattern: toast + [person/group]
At the dinner, Salma toasted her colleagues with a glass of wine.
structure: toast + [person] + with [drink]
Let us toast to fifteen years of happy friendship.
Chiara raised her glass and toasted the retiring coach.
- drink to
phrasal verb; more general — can toast or just sip in someone's honor
- propose a toast
longer phrase; implies being the one who initiates the toast with a short speech
- raise a glass to
describes the physical gesture; often used in formal writing
文法句型
toast + [person/group]
toast to + [occasion/quality]
用法筆記
Can take a direct object ('toast the bride') or use 'to' ('toast to your health'). The direct-object form is more common in American English; the 'to' form is more common in British English. Either is correct.