top and tail
The phrase "top and tail" is versatile, used in various contexts from food preparation to broadcasting, rail transport, and personal hygiene.
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🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
A2Cooking
(common)To clean and prepare vegetables or fruits by cutting off the ends.
Example
- Before cooking the carrots, make sure to top and tail them.
B2Broadcasting
(technical)To set the boundaries of an audio or video recording by marking the start and end points or trimming unwanted sections.
Example
- The editor had to top and tail the interview to fit the time slot.
C1Rail Transport
(technical, UK)To equip a train with locomotives at both ends for easy direction reversal.
Example
- In the UK, some trains are topped and tailed to improve operational efficiency.
B1Hygiene
(colloquial)To clean a child's face and bottom as part of a basic washing routine.
Example
- She quickly topped and tailed the baby before putting on a fresh diaper.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "top and tail":