dash of pepper

Meaning

A 'dash' is a small, quick addition of a liquid or powdery ingredient, roughly equivalent to 1/8 of a teaspoon or a quick shake of a shaker. A 'dash of pepper' means adding a very small amount of ground pepper to a dish for a hint of spice and flavor.

Examples

• Beat the eggs with a splash of milk and a dash of pepper.

  Beat the eggs with a splash of milk and a dash of pepper.

• The potato salad just needs a dash of pepper and it will be perfect.

  The potato salad just needs a dash of pepper and it will be perfect.

• She added a dash of pepper to her hot chocolate for an unexpected kick.

  She added a dash of pepper to her hot chocolate for an unexpected kick.

• Sprinkle a dash of pepper over the roasted vegetables before serving.

  Sprinkle a dash of pepper over the roasted vegetables before serving.

• I prefer a dash of pepper on my avocado toast instead of hot sauce.

  I prefer a dash of pepper on my avocado toast instead of hot sauce.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Put a splash of pepper in the soup.

  ✓ Put a dash of pepper in the soup.

  'Splash' is used for liquids (like milk or vinegar), whereas 'dash' is used for small shakes of dry spices or tiny drops of liquids.

• ✗ He added a drop of pepper to his steak.

  ✓ He added a dash of pepper to his steak.

  'Drop' is strictly for liquids. Powdered spices like pepper require 'dash', 'pinch', or 'shake'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After mashing the potatoes, mix in some butter, cream, and a ___.

  💡 A very small shake of a common black spice.

  Show answer

  dash of pepper

• The tomato soup was a bit bland, so I added a ___ to give it some warmth.

  💡 A quick shake of ground black spice.

  Show answer

  dash of pepper