all-you-can-eat — describing a restaurant or meal service where customers can eat unlimited amounts of food for a fixed price
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: describing a restaurant or meal service where customers can eat unlimited amounts of food for a fixed price
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɔːl juː kæn iːt/
Example Sentences
- My friend challenged me to an all-you-can-eat pizza contest, but I tapped out after slice number twelve.
- The all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant became my second home during college.
- He regretted choosing the all-you-can-eat option when he realized he only wanted a small salad.
all-you-can-eat
ADJECTIVE[/ˈɔːl juː kæn iːt/]
describing a restaurant or meal service where customers can eat unlimited amounts of food for a fixed price
The buffet hall offers an all-you-can-eat feast with endless dishes for hungry guests.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This compound adjective emerged in modern English as a marketing term for restaurants, developing in the 20th century. It originated from the literal phrase 'all you can eat,' which was hyphenated to function as a single attributive adjective describing dining establishments offering unlimited food consumption for a fixed price.
Breakdown
all (everything/the whole amount) + you (the diner) + can (are able to) + eat (consume food), originally a complete sentence restructured as a hyphenated compound adjective through nominalization and attributive conversion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My friend challenged me to an all-you-can-eat pizza contest, but I tapped out after slice number twelve.”
“The all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant became my second home during college.”
“He regretted choosing the all-you-can-eat option when he realized he only wanted a small salad.”
“The all-you-can-eat sushi bar was heaven for seafood lovers but hell for the restaurant owner.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.