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Glite Dictionary
tipsy cake

tipsy cake

7.7
A sponge cake soaked in wine or sherry and decorated with almonds and candied fruit
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : pastel borracho
  • Guests praised the chef’s unique take on tipsy cake with toasted almonds and fresh cream.

Examples

  • For dessert, she served a delicious tipsy cake soaked in sherry and topped with candied cherries.

  • The traditional English tipsy cake is often enjoyed during festive occasions.

  • I made a delicious tipsy cake for the party.

  • Have you ever tried tipsy cakes at a wedding?

  • For dessert, we served a delicious tipsy cake soaked in sherry and topped with candied fruit.

  • The family gathered around to enjoy the festive tipsy cake that Grandma makes every Christmas.

  • He brought a rich tipsy cake to the party, and everyone loved its unique flavor.

Surface Forms

tipsy cake singular
tipsy cakes plural

Morphology

tipsy + cake

The meaning is directly compositional: an adjective 'tipsy' (slightly intoxicated) modifying 'cake' denotes a cake made with alcohol or likely to make one mildly drunk. This adjective+noun pattern follows normal English composition and is easily inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Tipsy cake gets its name from the idea of a tipsy cake, a sponge soaked in wine or sherry so it seems a little 'drunk'. That's why the name means a cake soaked in alcohol, not a plain cake.