plain cheeseburger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plain cheeseburger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when ordering food or describing a simple cheeseburger without any additional toppings or modifications. Example: "I would like to order a plain cheeseburger with a side of fries, please."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The plain cheeseburger.

The Guardian - Film

That's a plain cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich, or some kind of chicken nugget variation.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We favored the plainer cheeseburger but added tasty sides of coleslaw and potato salad ($2.75 each) and grilled onions.

The New York Times

A 5-year-old boy, well known to the waitress, was offered plain pasta or a cheeseburger, while his father was spared the usual $3 for corkage.

The New York Times - Food

They make three kinds of burger at RUB: a plain burger ($6.50), a cheeseburger ($7), and the RUB burger ($7.50), topped with sautéed, not-quite-caramelized onions, cheese, crunchy pickles, and a chipotle aioli, which is one damn fine burger.

Huffington Post

He ate steadily but boringly: plain bagels with butter, cheeseburgers with ketchup but no other adornments, slices of cheese pizza instead of the pizza with sausage, peppers and onion that Mom and Dad preferred.

The New York Times - Magazine

For example, the customer's original order for a plain hamburger might be replaced with a cheeseburger that is 6 or 7 minutes old, or with a double cheeseburger that is 10 or 12 minutes old.

The New York Times

"These are Wichita prices!" said my friend from the Paris of the Plains, staring in awe at the menu, on which a double cheeseburger 'n fries was priced at $3.99.

The New Yorker

Cheeseburger, $6.

The New York Times

A big fat cheeseburger.

The New York Times

Try the double cheeseburger.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When ordering, specify "plain cheeseburger" if you want only cheese and a patty on the bun. This avoids unwanted additions like lettuce, tomato, or condiments.

Common error

Don't assume a server will know what you mean by "plain". Be specific about wanting only cheese and the patty on the bun to avoid any confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plain cheeseburger" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a compound noun. It describes a particular type of cheeseburger that is characterized by its simplicity. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "plain cheeseburger" is a grammatically correct and easily understood term for a cheeseburger without extra toppings, as confirmed by Ludwig. While relatively rare in occurrence, its meaning is clear across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. For clarity, especially when ordering, it's best to be specific about wanting only cheese and a patty to avoid any confusion. Alternatives include "simple cheeseburger" or "basic cheeseburger". Although its frequency is rare, authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use it, confirming its validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple cheeseburger

Replaces "plain" with "simple", emphasizing the lack of complexity.

basic cheeseburger

Uses "basic" instead of "plain", highlighting the fundamental components.

cheeseburger without toppings

Specifies the absence of toppings for clarity.

cheeseburger with no extras

Indicates the absence of additional items.

unadorned cheeseburger

Emphasizes the lack of decoration or embellishment.

cheeseburger, nothing added

Directly states that nothing has been added to the cheeseburger.

naked cheeseburger

Informal term suggesting a cheeseburger with no toppings.

cheeseburger, just cheese and patty

Explicitly lists the ingredients.

regular cheeseburger

Implies a standard or unmodified cheeseburger.

cheeseburger, hold the toppings

Requests the cheeseburger to be made without toppings.

FAQs

How to use "plain cheeseburger" in a sentence?

You can use "plain cheeseburger" when ordering food, for example: "I'd like a plain cheeseburger and fries, please."

What can I say instead of "plain cheeseburger"?

Alternatives include "simple cheeseburger" or "basic cheeseburger", depending on the context.

What does "plain" mean in the context of a cheeseburger?

In this context, "plain" means that the cheeseburger only contains the standard ingredients of a cheeseburger: a patty, cheese, and a bun, with no extra toppings or condiments.

Is it common to order a "plain cheeseburger"?

While not the most frequent order, requesting a "plain cheeseburger" is perfectly acceptable if you prefer it without the usual additions like lettuce, tomato, or sauces.