sandwich
sandwich
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sandwich" is /ˈsænwɪtʃ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
san-: /ˈsæn/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
-dwich: /wɪtʃ/
/w/ - labial-velar approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/tʃ/ - voiceless post-alveolar affricate
Word Form Variations
Singular noun: sandwich
Plural noun: sandwiches
Third-person singular present verb: sandwiches
Present participle verb: sandwiching
Past tense verb: sandwiched
Past participle verb: sandwiched
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A food item consisting of two or more slices of bread with one or more fillings placed between them, often consumed as a light meal or snack.
Synonyms: sub, hoagie, hero (regional variations), wrap (if enclosed), grinder (regional)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific food item. One could consider other types of meals or dishes as contrasts.)
Definition 2: Something that is arranged or placed between two other things, often forming a layered structure or being squeezed.
Synonyms: layer, insert, interposition, filling
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to a structural arrangement.)
Verb
Definition 1: To insert or place something tightly between two other things, often in a restrictive or somewhat uncomfortable manner.
Example: "She had to sandwich her car between two large trucks in the parking lot."
Synonyms: wedge, squeeze, cram, jam, press, interpose
Antonyms: release, loosen, free, extract, unwedge
Definition 2: To place something (such as an activity or event) in the middle of two other activities or events, often implying a tight schedule or limited time.
Example: "He tried to sandwich a quick workout between his meetings."
Synonyms: interleave, intersperse, interpose, fit in
Antonyms: spread out, separate, un-schedule
Examples of Use
Books:
"He reached for the last egg salad sandwich on the platter, his stomach rumbling in protest." (From The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, August 2020)
"The detective found himself sandwiched between a wall of reporters and a frantic film crew." (From The Guest List by Lucy Fokley, February 2021)
Newspapers:
"A new study suggests that regularly eating a balanced sandwich can be a healthy lunch option." (From The Guardian, May 2024)
"Local authorities are trying to sandwich new housing developments into already crowded urban areas." (From The New York Times, April 2024)
Online Publications:
"Our comprehensive guide to making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich at home." (From Serious Eats, October 2023)
"The pop star managed to sandwich a surprise acoustic set into her busy tour schedule." (From Pitchfork, November 2023)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Pulp Fiction, there's a memorable scene where characters discuss the differences in naming a "Royale with Cheese" (a type of sandwich) in France versus America. (Miramax Films, 1994)
Television Series: In an episode of Friends, Joey Tribbiani famously refuses to share his sandwich. (NBC, 1994-2004)
Video Game: In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players can cook various food items, including different types of sandwiches, to restore health. (Nintendo, March 2017)
Music: The song "Ham 'n' Eggs" by A Tribe Called Quest includes the line, "I don't eat no ham 'n' eggs / 'Cause they're high in cholesterol / I don't eat no funky green eggs and ham / Just a big ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwich." (From People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, April 1990)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse, or at least a really big sandwich." (Common colloquialism)
"We had to sandwich our vacation between the kids' school terms, so it was a bit rushed."
"Can you believe they tried to sandwich that meeting into my lunch break?"
10 Quotes Using Sandwich
"Sandwiches are wonderful. You don't need a spoon or a plate!" (Paul Lynde)
"A man's social rank is determined by the amount of bread he eats in a sandwich." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and the Damned, 1921)
"If one slice of ham between two slices of bread is a ham sandwich, why is not one slice of bread between two slices of ham a bread sandwich?" (John Kendrick Bangs, The Idiot at Home, 1900)
"Life is a sandwich of the past and the future. It is a slice of the immediate between a slice of past and one of future." (John Kendrick Bangs, The Idiot at Home, 1900)
"I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich." (Attributed to Frank Perdue, though often generalized)
"You gave my sandwich away?!" (Betty Draper in Mad Men, April 2014)
"Does The Pope wipe his ass with tuna fish sandwiches?" (Jarod Kintz, To be good at golf you must go full koala bear)
"My idea of a balanced diet: a sandwich in each hand." (Unknown)
"And this may be the only reason we were put on this earth. To say to each other, I know how you feel. To say, Same. To say, I understand how hard it is to be a parent, a kid. To say, Your shell stank and you're sad. I've been there." (1Sandwich by Catherine Newman)
"If I have any rules at all, they that a bacon sandwich should always be slightly too big, never elegant." (Nigel Slater, A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy A Memoir of Sorts)
Etymology
The word "sandwich" comes from the title of an English nobleman, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich.
Here's how the story goes:
In the mid-1700s, the Earl of Sandwich was a very keen gambler. He apparently loved to play cards so much that he didn't want to leave the gaming table, even to eat. So, he would ask his servants to bring him slices of meat placed between two slices of bread. This allowed him to eat his meal with one hand, keeping the other free for his game, and without getting his cards greasy.
Other people at the gaming table saw what he was doing and started ordering "the same as Sandwich" or "a Sandwich." Over time, this convenient way of eating became popular, and the name of the Earl stuck to the food item.
So, the first known use and meaning of the word "sandwich" referred to this specific food item – meat between two slices of bread – and it originated directly from the name of the Earl of Sandwich in the mid-18th century (around the 1760s). Before this, there wasn't a specific word for this type of food combination, although people certainly put food between bread. The Earl just popularized it and gave it a name.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sandwich
Knuckle sandwich: A punch to the face. (Informal)
Sandwich board: A pair of hinged boards worn over the shoulders, used for advertising.
Sandwich course: A course of study that involves periods of practical work experience interspersed with academic study.
Open-faced sandwich: A type of sandwich with only one slice of bread.
Club sandwich: A multi-layered sandwich, typically with chicken or turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
To sandwich between: To place something tightly between two other things, often in a confined space or time. (e.g., "I had to sandwich my errands between two meetings.")
A full plate (idiom using a synonym for 'sandwich' in a meal context): Having many tasks or responsibilities. (e.g., "She has a full plate with work and family commitments.")
Between a rock and a hard place (idiom with a similar 'stuck' meaning): In a difficult situation where both choices are undesirable. (e.g., "He was caught between a rock and a hard place when both his friends asked him for help.")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sandwich from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
