mincemeat

American  

[mins-meet] / ˈmɪnsˌmit /

noun

1. a mixture composed of minced apples, raisins, currants, candied citron, suet, etc., originally and traditionally also containing meat, for filling a pie.

2. meat that is ground up or cut in very small pieces.

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idioms

1. make mincemeat of, to destroy utterly.

   He made mincemeat of his opponent's charges.

mincemeat British  

/ ˈmɪnsˌmiːt /

noun

1. a mixture of dried fruit, spices, etc, used esp for filling pies

2. minced meat

3. informal to defeat completely

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mincemeat More Idioms  

1. see make mincemeat of.

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Etymology

Origin of mincemeat

First recorded in 1655–65; mince + meat

Example Sentences

“But then I thought there’s mincemeat pie — I mean, that’s an English dessert. These people just put very strange things in their food.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

The filling is called "mincemeat" even though it's made out of fruits and nuts like raisins and almonds.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2022

Close all the way except in one respect: The final score will make mincemeat of the total.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2022

I’m cutting pieces for / A hot stew or / Perhaps a British mincemeat pie Don’t look too hard, but you won’t need to / They say carrots help you see at night Oh, snap!

From Washington Post • Sep. 22, 2022

The house was festive, and we were surrounded by the aroma of mincemeat and sweet potato pies cooking in the oven.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals