smothered in butter

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'smothered in butter' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it, for example, when describing the preparation of a food item. For example, "The potatoes were boiled and then smothered in butter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Its spiffy seaside tables are stacked with Georgian delights, including Adjara khachapuri, boat-shaped dough with grated cheese and an egg in the middle, smothered in butter.

The New York Times - Travel

On the menu are bread and brioche smothered in butter and homemade preserves, artisan yoghurts, eggs, fresh juices and light lunches.

The Guardian - Travel

Rye pancakes, which became popular in the early 1700's, when rye was a staple crop in New England, are quite different from the wheat pancakes traditionally smothered in butter and maple syrup.

The New York Times - Food

A team of chefs whipped up a plentiful, if somewhat pedestrian, meal of steak, breaded trout, mashed potatoes, beans, salad and corn smothered in butter, with apple and blueberry cobbler for dessert; we ate on picnic tables draped in checkered cloths.

The New York Times - Travel

Hawksmoor in London was one of the first restaurants to go big on the lobster roll after co-owner Huw Gott was inspired by "a hot lobster roll I had at Red's Eats in Maine – freshly steamed lobster smothered in butter – a revelation".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was offered popcorn smothered in butter and nutritional yeast.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

A book that extends from Benjamin Franklin's fascination with Frenchwomen's cosmetics ("As to Rouge, they don't pretend to imitate Nature in laying it on") to S. J. Perelman's imagined French horror of American cooking ("Don't be an Airedale... Hasn't Marcel told you about my noodles Yankee Doodle, smothered in peanut butter and mayonnaise?") is sure to provide unexpected treats.

The New York Times - Books

Brush evenly until the bread is glowing but not smothered in the butter.

WikiHow

Even better is a grilled prime sirloin steak smothered in roasted-garlic herb butter.

The New York Times - Food

His favourite sandwich was said to consist of two slices of fried bread, with crispy bacon and fried bananas, smothered in jam and peanut butter.

BBC

We feasted on mashed potato and hard boiled eggs, smothered in thick slabs of melting butter, sprinkled with dried mint and wrapped in a warm flatbread, and tender steamed purple and yellow beetroot that we sprinkled generously with sumac.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smothered in butter" to vividly describe the preparation or presentation of food where butter is generously applied, enhancing flavor and richness. For example, "The pancakes were perfectly browned and smothered in butter."

Common error

Avoid using "smothered in butter" when describing dishes intended to be healthy or light. It implies a heavy, rich preparation that contradicts the desired image.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smothered in butter" functions as a descriptive modifier, specifically a past participle phrase acting as an adjective. It vividly describes a noun (typically food) that has been generously covered with butter. Ludwig AI confirms that is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

13%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

The New Yorker

5%

BBC

5%

The Guardian

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smothered in butter" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe food generously coated with butter. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s readily usable in English writing and is primarily found in contexts like News & Media and Wiki. This prepositional phrase acts as a descriptive adjective, often used to evoke a sense of richness and indulgence. While alternatives like "drenched in butter" or "lavishly buttered" exist, "smothered in butter" maintains a balance between vividness and neutrality. When employing this phrase, consider the context, avoiding it when describing dishes intended to be light or healthy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drenched in butter

Emphasizes the saturation of butter, suggesting a higher degree of coverage than simply "smothered".

lavishly buttered

Highlights the abundance and generosity of butter usage.

generously coated in butter

Focuses on the extent of coverage with butter, implying a thick layer.

swimming in butter

Suggests an excessive amount of butter, perhaps even more than necessary.

rich with butter

Highlights the richness and flavor imparted by the butter.

laden with butter

Emphasizes the heaviness and quantity of butter used.

bathed in butter

Implies a more delicate and even coating of butter.

smothered in richness

Shifts focus from the specific ingredient (butter) to the general quality of richness.

heavily buttered

Directly describes the application of a large amount of butter.

greased with butter

Emphasizes the lubrication and shine provided by the butter.

FAQs

How can I use "smothered in butter" in a sentence?

You can use "smothered in butter" to describe food that has a generous amount of butter on it, such as "The toast was "smothered in butter" and tasted delicious".

What's a less literal alternative to "smothered in butter"?

Instead of saying "smothered in butter", you could say something is "rich with butter", especially when wanting to highlight the flavor it brings.

Is it correct to say "drenched in butter" instead of "smothered in butter"?

While both phrases imply a lot of butter, "drenched in butter" suggests an even greater amount, to the point of being soaked. "Smothered in butter" simply means covered generously.

What other ingredients can be "smothered in" besides butter?

The word "smothered" can be used with other sauces or toppings like gravy, cheese, or onions. For example, "The steak was "smothered in onions"".