pub grub

Meaning

1. 1noununcountableinformalBritish

   Simple, filling food served in a pub, such as pies, burgers, sausages and chips.

   Grammar: Uncountable: some pub grub, not a pub grub.

   Patterns

   • a plate of pub grub

   We stopped at a village inn for some pub grub after the hike.

   The pub serves good pub grub at lunchtime.

   After the match, we ordered pub grub and a pint.

Common combinations

serve pub grub

The place serves pub grub until nine.

classic pub grub

Fish and chips is classic pub grub.

hearty pub grub

We needed hearty pub grub after the cold walk.

decent pub grub

It's not fancy, but it's decent pub grub.

order some pub grub

Shall we order some pub grub?

Synonyms and how they differ

bar food

Bar food is the American equivalent and covers snacks such as wings and nachos.

comfort food

Comfort food can be eaten anywhere, whereas pub grub is tied to food from a pub.

pub food

Pub food is the neutral version, while pub grub sounds warmer and more casual.

Opposites

Word family

grub noun

informal word for food, or an insect larva

pub noun

a place where people drink and eat

gastropub noun

a pub that serves higher-quality food

pub lunch noun

a midday meal in a pub

Commonly confused: pub grub or gastropub food?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pub grub”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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