fast food
Quick meal
Use `fast food` for quick, mass-produced meals from chains when convenience is your top priority.
في 15 ثانية
- Quickly prepared food from a restaurant chain.
- Usually inexpensive and served in disposable packaging.
- Commonly associated with burgers, fries, and soda.
المعنى
This refers to food that is prepared very quickly in a restaurant and served in a way that you can take it away easily. It is usually cheap, convenient, and often eaten with your hands.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Planning a quick lunch with a coworker
Let's just grab some fast food so we aren't late for the meeting.
Let's just grab some fast food so we aren't late for the meeting.
Discussing health habits with a doctor
I am trying to cut down on how much fast food I eat.
I am trying to cut down on how much fast food I eat.
Texting a friend after a long night out
I need some greasy fast food right now lol.
I need some greasy fast food right now lol.
خلفية ثقافية
Fast food is a cornerstone of American 'on-the-go' culture, popularized by brands like McDonald's in the mid-20th century. It reflects the industrialization of cooking and the rise of the automobile. Today, it is a global symbol of globalization, with local variations like currywurst in Germany or teriyaki burgers in Japan.
The 'Grab' Rule
Native speakers almost always say they are going to 'grab' fast food. It sounds much more natural than saying 'purchase' or 'obtain'.
Junk vs. Fast
While similar, 'junk food' includes snacks like chips and candy. 'Fast food' specifically refers to prepared meals from a restaurant.
في 15 ثانية
- Quickly prepared food from a restaurant chain.
- Usually inexpensive and served in disposable packaging.
- Commonly associated with burgers, fries, and soda.
What It Means
Fast food is exactly what it sounds like. It is food made for people on the move. Think of burgers, fries, or tacos. You order at a counter or a window. You get your meal in minutes. It is designed to be consistent. A burger in London tastes like a burger in New York. It is the ultimate convenience for a busy life.
How To Use It
You use fast food as a noun. You can say you are "eating" it or "getting" it. It often describes the industry too. You might talk about fast food chains or restaurants. It is very common to use it when planning a quick lunch. Just remember, it usually implies a specific type of greasy, salty joy.
When To Use It
Use it when you are in a rush. It is perfect for road trips. Use it when you are too tired to cook. It is great for late-night snacks with friends. You can use it in casual conversation. It also works in news reports about health or business. If you see a drive-thru, you are looking at fast food.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for a quick salad you made at home. That is just a "quick meal." Do not use it for high-end restaurants. Even if the service is fast, call it "fine dining." Avoid using it to describe a healthy snack like an apple. It usually implies processed food. Calling a steakhouse fast food might offend the chef!
Cultural Background
This phrase exploded in the 1950s in America. It changed how the world eats. It represents the "need for speed" in modern culture. In the US, it is a staple of the car-centric lifestyle. Now, it is a global phenomenon. Every country has its own local version. It is often debated in talks about health and the environment.
Common Variations
You might hear people say junk food. That is similar but more negative. Some people call it takeout or takeaway. In the business world, they call it QSR. That stands for "Quick Service Restaurant." If you want to sound fancy, call it "fast-casual." That is like fast food but slightly higher quality.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is very versatile and fits into almost any conversation level. Just be aware that it carries a connotation of being 'unhealthy' in modern contexts.
The 'Grab' Rule
Native speakers almost always say they are going to 'grab' fast food. It sounds much more natural than saying 'purchase' or 'obtain'.
Junk vs. Fast
While similar, 'junk food' includes snacks like chips and candy. 'Fast food' specifically refers to prepared meals from a restaurant.
The Secret Menu
In the US, many fast food places have 'secret menus'—items you can order that aren't on the board. Ask a local for their favorite!
أمثلة
6Let's just grab some fast food so we aren't late for the meeting.
Let's just grab some fast food so we aren't late for the meeting.
Using 'grab' makes it sound casual and quick.
I am trying to cut down on how much fast food I eat.
I am trying to cut down on how much fast food I eat.
In a medical context, it refers to a specific diet category.
I need some greasy fast food right now lol.
I need some greasy fast food right now lol.
The adjective 'greasy' is often used affectionately here.
If you finish your homework, we can get fast food for dinner.
If you finish your homework, we can get fast food for dinner.
It is often treated as a treat or reward for kids.
He took me to a fast food place for our anniversary!
He took me to a fast food place for our anniversary!
Used here to show a lack of effort or romance.
I shouldn't have eaten that fast food; I feel so sluggish now.
I shouldn't have eaten that fast food; I feel so sluggish now.
Reflects the physical feeling after eating processed food.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a busy day.
I don't have time to cook, so I'll stop by a ___ restaurant on the way home.
A 'fast food' restaurant is the standard term for a place that serves meals quickly for people in a rush.
Identify the common verb used with this phrase.
Do you want to ___ some fast food for lunch?
'Grab' is a very common informal verb used when getting a quick meal.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Fast Food'
Talking with friends about cravings.
I'm dying for some fast food.
General daily conversation or news.
The fast food industry is changing.
Academic or medical discussions.
The consumption of fast food has increased.
Where to find 'Fast Food'
Road Trip
Drive-thru windows
Mall
The food court
Late Night
24-hour burger joints
Work
A 15-minute lunch break
الأسئلة الشائعة
11 أسئلةIt is two separate words. You write it as fast food without a hyphen unless it is modifying another noun, like a fast-food worker.
Usually, no. Even if it is fast, people associate the term with burgers and fries. You might call a healthy place 'fast-casual' instead.
The literal movement is called slow food, which focuses on local ingredients and traditional cooking. Otherwise, you'd just say a sit-down restaurant.
Yes, it is a neutral term. If you are discussing the industry, using fast food is perfectly professional.
Not exactly. Takeout is any food you pick up to eat elsewhere, including from fancy restaurants. Fast food is a specific category of food.
People use junk food when they want to emphasize that the food is unhealthy or has low nutritional value.
Yes! You can talk about a fast food habit or a fast food chain. It describes things related to that industry.
The most common are burgers, fries, nuggets, tacos, and pizza.
Not at all, especially among friends. However, don't make it the only option for a formal dinner party!
Yes, though they also frequently use the term takeaway to describe the act of bringing the food home.
No, it is uncountable. You don't say 'I ate three fast foods.' You say 'I ate some fast food' or 'I ate three fast food meals'.
عبارات ذات صلة
Junk food
Unhealthy food with little nutritional value.
Takeout / Takeaway
Food you buy at a restaurant to eat somewhere else.
Drive-thru
A type of service where you order and receive food without leaving your car.
Fast-casual
A higher quality version of fast food with better ingredients.
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