barbecue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barbecue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a cooking method, a social gathering centered around grilling food, or the food itself that is cooked in this manner. Example: "We are planning a barbecue this weekend at the park, and everyone is invited to bring their favorite dishes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District (Allen Lane) is out next month SM The Texas state capital's vibrant food truck scene nurtured the phenomenon that is Franklin Barbecue, which has been putting the queue into barbecue at permanent premises since 2011.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One day there was a massive chef's barbecue involving two pigs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cook the skewers on a barbecue, or a griddle pan over a medium-high heat, for about 20 minutes until cooked through, turning regularly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can also camp in the grounds, though the locally made wooden camping pods are proving more popular, and come with a fire pit, barbecue and children's play area; you'll need to bring your own gear if staying in the pods.

The Guardian - Travel

Communal barbecue nights, table football and pool table ensure there's plenty of opportunity to mix with fellow campers.

The Guardian - Travel

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the remnants of Guardian Australia's barbecue on Friday.

The Guardian

One of the most popular crossings remains Anzalduas Park, in Mission, Texas, a favourite weekend barbecue spot for local families where the Rio Grande curves and narrows – and crossing on a raft or boat takes a matter of seconds.

The Guardian

A child's swing and Ikea garden chairs and table came together nicely, but then a bookcase from an online retailer proved tricky, and I missed my deadline bolting together a Homebase barbecue, which meant the children had to be fed from the oven.

The Guardian - Opinion

The kitchen is roomy too, with a braai (barbecue) on the balcony.

The Guardian - Travel

The Anglo-American owners, Tom & Kelli, fired up the barbecue for us as we chatted with them into the wee hours, swapping Latin American adventure stories.

The Guardian - Travel

"We had a heroin user who, after a number of years of talking to us at these barbecue events, used less and less and saw us more to talk through his problems," Wilson said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a barbecue event, use specific details about the food, location, and activities to create a vivid picture for the reader.

Common error

Don't use "barbecue" and "grilling" interchangeably. "Barbecuing" involves slow cooking over indirect heat, while "grilling" uses direct heat for quicker cooking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barbecue" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the apparatus, the event, or the food itself. As a verb, it describes the act of cooking on a barbecue. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its versatile usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Travel

25%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Sport

5%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "barbecue" is a versatile word used to describe a cooking method, a social event, or the food cooked in that manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted in English. It functions as both a noun and a verb, appearing frequently in news, travel, and lifestyle contexts. While often used interchangeably with "grilling", it's important to remember that "barbecuing" involves slow cooking over indirect heat. Related terms include "cookout" and "outdoor grilling", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. "Barbecue" is a common term, deeply rooted in cultural and culinary traditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

braai

A South African term equivalent to barbecue.

backyard barbecue

Specifies the location of the barbecue as a backyard.

outdoor grilling

Focuses on the activity of grilling food outdoors, similar to barbecuing.

cookout

Emphasizes the social gathering aspect of a barbecue.

patio grill

Refers to grilling food on a patio, a common location for barbecues.

grilling party

Highlights the celebratory nature of a barbecue event.

smoking meats

Emphasizes the smoking aspect of specific barbecue styles.

open-air feast

Describes a large meal prepared and eaten outdoors.

al fresco dining

Focuses on the experience of eating outdoors, potentially including barbecued food.

summer picnic

Highlights the casual, outdoor dining aspect, which may include a barbecue.

FAQs

How to use "barbecue" in a sentence?

You can use "barbecue" as a noun to refer to a grill, a meal, or the event itself, or as a verb to describe the act of cooking food on a barbecue. For example, "We bought a new barbecue for the summer" or "We will barbecue some chicken this weekend".

What can I say instead of "barbecue"?

You can use alternatives like "cookout", "grilling party", or "outdoor grilling" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "barbecue" or "BBQ"?

"Barbecue" is the full word, while "BBQ" is an abbreviation. Both are widely accepted and used, but "barbecue" is more formal.

What's the difference between "barbecue" and "braai"?

"Barbecue" is a general term for cooking food over heat, while "braai" is a South African term for a barbecue, often implying a specific social and cultural event similar to a barbecue.