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olla podrida

American  
[ol-uh puh-dree-duh, aw-lyah paw-three-thah, aw-yah] / ˌɒl ə pəˈdri də, ˌɔ lyɑ pɔˈðri ðɑ, ˌɔ yɑ /

noun

  1. a spicy Spanish stew of sausage and other meat, chickpeas, and often tomatoes and other vegetables.

  2. an incongruous mixture or miscellany; olio.


olla podrida British  
/ pɒˈdriːdə, poˈðriða /

noun

  1. a Spanish dish, consisting of a stew with beans, sausages, etc

  2. an assortment; miscellany

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of olla podrida

1590–1600; < Spanish: literally, rotten pot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A skillfully concocted olla podrida of Latin American nightclub idioms sizzling in Stravinskian sauce with occasional Straussian dumplings.

From Time Magazine Archive

His family is what the Spanish call olla podrida, or rotten pot, a mess.

From Time Magazine Archive

The investigating priest is soon dipping into an olla podrida involving cupidity, lost love and sudden deaths at the church that may or may not have been accidents.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Entertainments," an indefinite and mysterious word, something akin to the olla podrida of sunny Spain, abounded.

From Dickens' London by Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)

They had no appetite then, and so they couldn't judge of the olla podrida.

From Vignettes of Manhattan; Outlines in Local Color by Matthews, Brander