out of starch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of starch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a lack of starch, often in the context of cooking or laundry, where starch is used for stiffening fabrics or enhancing food texture. Example: "I wanted to make my shirt crisp, but I'm out of starch, so I guess I'll have to skip ironing it today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I'm out of starch".

The New Yorker

"I just feel restaurants make a lot of money out of starch," Ms. Povich said.

The New York Times

It was molded out of starch paper and dusted with raspberry sugar, and it complemented a foamy floral cocktail — a Rebujito, made of Manzanilla sherry and orange blossom water chilled with liquid nitrogen.

The New York Times - Food

We found this phenotype in cca1/lhy plants, which run out of starch earlier than 24 hr after the previous dawn.

eLife

In the first twelve months, we have already published more than 180 research articles on a wide range of subjects, from the origins of multicellularity in animals (which was literally our first paper) and plants performing arithmetic so that they do not run out of starch by morning, to the evolution of cancer after targeted combination therapy and the discovery of the Hepatitis B receptor.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

NS carried out biochemical assays of starch metabolic enzymes shown in Table 1.

BMC Plant Biology

KT carried out labelling and hybridisations, analysis of starch metabolic genes, qRT-PCR of starch genes and assisted with drafting the manuscript.

BMC Plant Biology

In other words, we aimed to track out how the proposed profile of starch flux over the diurnal cycle could be affected by the rhythmical expression of each particular gene, and identify those genes that provided the maximum contribution.

BMC Systems Biology

It should also be pointed out that the shelf life of starch based films at 25 °C (up to 24 days) is of relevance to short shelf life foodstuffs such as bakery products.

Food Hydrocolloids

(Rooney) 'The Dance of Death' (in previews; opens on Thursday) A New York company whose mission is to shake the starch out of classical theater, Red Bull presents this new Strindberg adaptation by Mike Poulton, best known for his 2003 take on Turgenev's "Fortune's Fool".

The New York Times

"Hand laundry is a lost art," Scott A. Kaufman, the owner, said, pointing out that getting the right amount of starch takes practice, because too much starch makes the fabric easy to scorch while pressing.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food or recipes, use the phrase "out of starch" to indicate the absence of starchy ingredients. For example, "This diet is useful if you're trying to cut out carbs or if you are simply out of starch."

Common error

Avoid using "out of starch" when you mean something is 'starch-free' or 'low in starch' as a general property; "out of starch" usually implies a temporary lack of supply. Consider using "starch-free" or "low in starch" when describing inherent characteristics of a product.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of starch" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase indicating the absence or depletion of starch. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in contexts involving cooking, laundry, and other scenarios where starch is a necessary ingredient or supply. It expresses a state of lacking a particular resource.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of starch" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the absence or depletion of starch, typically in contexts related to cooking, laundry, or scientific experiments. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that while grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in News & Media and Science sources. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a temporary lack of supply rather than a permanent characteristic of something. Consider alternatives like "lacking starch" or ""starch-free"" for different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking starch

Directly expresses the absence of starch.

without starch

Implies the complete absence of starch.

starch-free

Indicates a product or item that has no starch content.

having no starch

States the non-existence of starch.

depleted of starch

Highlights the state of being emptied of starch.

low on starch

Indicates a limited quantity of starch.

short of starch

Similar to 'low on starch', implying a scarcity.

exhausted of starch

Suggests that the starch has been completely used up.

deficient in starch

Describes a condition where starch is insufficient.

wanting starch

A more formal way of saying that starch is needed or lacking.

FAQs

How can I use "out of starch" in a sentence?

You can use "out of starch" to describe a situation where you've run out of starch, particularly in cooking or laundry contexts. For example: "I can't iron those shirts today because I'm out of starch" or "We can't make this recipe, we are out of starch".

What's the difference between "lacking starch" and "out of starch"?

"Lacking starch" generally describes a product or item that inherently does not contain starch. "Out of starch" typically refers to a temporary situation where you've used up all the available starch you had.

Which is correct, "out of starch" or "without starch"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Out of starch" means you have exhausted your supply, while "without starch" describes something that does not contain starch as a characteristic.

What can I say instead of "out of starch" when referring to clothes?

You could say that the clothes are "lacking starch", "without starch", or that you "need to buy more starch."