sprig of mint
1
1.0
- noun
- /sprɪg əv mɪnt/
:
ramita de menta
- Fishing into his belt pouch, he got out a sprig of mint to chew on.
- serve with a sprig of mint
- few sprigs of mint
Examples
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Serve your favorite cocktail with a fragrant sprig of mint on top.
-
I was grateful for the iced tea with a sprig of mint.
Blog text (25) -
Sucking on his sprig of mint, he suggested waiting for morning.
Fiction book (2000) -
Turn off the heat and toss in about ten sprigs of mint, then cover the pot and let it steep for about an hour.
Blog text (34) -
Simply pour 1/3 white port and 2/3 tonic over ice and add a sprig of mint, and you're all set.
Blog text (34) -
The orange of the oranges and the red of the apples in the bowl need color relief; you add a small sprig of mint from the kitchen.
Academic text (1999) -
To enhance the flavor, add a fresh sprig of mint to your chocolate dessert.
-
For a refreshing drink, muddle a sprig of mint in your lemonade.
Synonyms
A small mint leaf or sprig put on food and drink to decorate and add fresh flavor
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is transparently composed: 'sprig' (a small twig) + 'of' (linking) + 'mint' (the herb) yields the literal meaning 'a small stem with mint leaves' used as a garnish. This noun+of+noun composition is common in cooking contexts and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Sprig of mint shows a simple picture: a small green sprig, a tiny stem of mint, placed on a drink or on a plate. People add it for a fresh smell and a light 'flavor' or 'garnish', so the phrase means a small mint stem used to decorate or flavor food and drinks.