Words / B1

TEE-tow-uh-l/ˈtiː ˌtaʊəl/

A tea towel (id: tea-towel) is a cloth for drying washed dishes, glasses, and cutlery (UK). A bath towel is for people; kitchen roll is paper. Food tech: a tea towel dries the kit; a bath towel is not for the plates.

Meaning

A cloth for drying washed dishes, glasses, and cutlery (UK).

Examples

• “A tea towel dries the food-tech kit; a bath towel is not for the plates.”
• “A tea towel is not an oven glove; grabbing a hot tin with one is a burn in the accident book.”

Good to know

a tea towel (UK). Contrast: a bath towel / kitchen roll. Food tech. Countable cloths. Mix-up: tea is the drink; a tea towel dries dishes, and is not only for teapots. US: a dish towel.

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