ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crumb down

phr. v..
C2 Proficiency Oxford

phr. v.. to clear bread crumbs off a table, usually in a fancy restaurant.

phr. v.. to remove crumbs from a table surface between courses, typically performed by a server using a specialized tool or a folded napkin.


SIMPLE

The waiter will crumb down the table before dessert.

CONTEXTUAL

In fine dining establishments, staff are trained to crumb down the table discreetly so guests are not disturbed.

COMPLEX

After the main course was cleared, the server proceeded to crumb down the linen before presenting the dessert menu.

Particles
down
Separability
optional
Pattern
crumb + down + object
Usage

this is a technical term used almost exclusively in the professional hospitality and restaurant industry.

Teaching tip

this is a rare, industry-specific phrasal verb; use it to show how nouns like 'crumb' can become verbs in specialized English contexts.

Pitfall

He crumbed the table down.He crumbed down the table.while technically separable, it is almost always used as an inseparable unit in a professional context.

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