a barbecue outside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a barbecue outside" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a barbecue event or activity that is taking place outdoors. Example: "We are planning to have a barbecue outside this weekend to celebrate the summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

About 200 people attended the forum at the Babylon Town Hall and a barbecue outside afterward.

The New York Times

There was a barbecue outside and we could have enjoyed supper there – picking rosemary and lemons for seasoning.

The Guardian - Travel

"Why can't you just have a barbecue outside for, like, 150 bucks?" she wanted to know.

The New York Times - Magazine

One of the largest and most boisterious crowds has gathered for a barbecue outside the home of Robert's cousin Goya.

Independent

Food and drink Shop in Kendal on the way (Coniston has small shops for stocking up on essentials), and cook at the cottage; there's a barbecue outside.

Independent

It is also renowned for the ubiquitous "sausage sizzle", where the company's policy of allowing community groups and clubs to take turns to set up a barbecue outside stores results in customers munching on sausage sandwiches as they negotiate the long walks between timber and tape, and paint and petunias.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The villa kitchen is tiny, but who wants to cook inside when there's a big barbecue outside, and a view to soak up with your glass of wine?

The Guardian - Travel

And in the evenings, once the children were in bed, rather than staying in a soulless motel room, we could barbecue outside in the garden (trust me hot sticky Savannah evenings are a good thing!), or curl up in the den and read a book from the shelves.

Huffington Post

There is a gas hob, but we chose to cook kebabs on the wok-like barbecue outside, while the girls toasted marshmallows, bought from the site's honesty shop, over the embers.

The Guardian - Travel

Butterflied leg of lamb is one of the most impressive things you can put on a barbecue, with the outside all crusty and slightly charred and the inside all pink and delicious.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some thought that cooking on a barbecue and eating outside were enjoyable aspects of summer.

Global Health Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event, use "a barbecue outside" to clearly indicate an outdoor setting for the meal and gathering. This phrase evokes a casual and social atmosphere.

Common error

Avoid specifying the location unnecessarily if it's already implied. For example, saying "a barbecue outside in the backyard" can be redundant. Just use "a barbecue in the backyard" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a barbecue outside" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As supported by Ludwig's examples, this phrase denotes a social event centered around grilling food in an outdoor setting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

30%

Lifestyle

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a barbecue outside" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood expression used to describe a social gathering centered around grilling food in an outdoor setting. As validated by Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase with a primarily descriptive purpose. The register is generally neutral to informal, making it suitable for casual conversations, news articles, and travel guides. While frequently found in contexts like News & Media, Travel and Lifestyle, it's less common in more formal or scientific writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an outdoor cookout

Replaces "barbecue" with "cookout" and uses "outdoor" instead of "outside", emphasizing the location.

a backyard barbecue

Specifies the location of the barbecue as a "backyard".

a patio grill party

Uses "grill party" instead of "barbecue" and specifies "patio" as the location.

an open-air barbecue

Replaces "outside" with "open-air", highlighting the outdoor setting.

a barbecue in the garden

Specifies the location as "garden".

a grill out on the deck

Uses "grill out" instead of "barbecue" and specifies "deck" as the location.

a cookout on the lawn

Uses "cookout" instead of "barbecue" and specifies "lawn" as the location.

outdoor grilling event

A more formal way to define a barbecue, it employs the word "event" and the adjective "grilling".

a picnic with barbecue

Emphasizes the picnic aspect alongside the barbecue.

cooking out with a grill

Uses "cooking out" to describe the activity and mentions a "grill".

FAQs

What does "a barbecue outside" mean?

The phrase "a barbecue outside" refers to a social gathering where food is cooked on a grill outdoors. It usually implies a casual setting with friends and family.

What can I say instead of "a barbecue outside"?

You can use alternatives like "an outdoor cookout", "a backyard barbecue", or "a patio grill party" depending on the specific context.

Is "a barbecue outside" the same as "an outdoor barbecue"?

Yes, "a barbecue outside" and "an outdoor barbecue" are essentially interchangeable. Both phrases indicate that the barbecue is taking place outdoors.

How to use "a barbecue outside" in a sentence?

You can use "a barbecue outside" in a sentence like: "We are planning to have "a barbecue outside" this weekend to celebrate the summer."