side dish

American  

noun

1. a serving of a portion of food in addition to the principal food, usually on a separate dish.

2. the small additional dish used for such food.

---

side dish British  

noun

1. a portion of food served in addition to the main dish

---

Etymology

Origin of side dish

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Indeed, as in other Lawrence projects — which typically feature divorced or separated characters — romance is a sort of side dish, less the issue than whether people are managing to treat one another well.

From Los Angeles Times

“Well, we can always use a side dish.”

From Literature

There’s something we all solemnly acknowledge in November and then immediately forget by January: the side dishes are the real reason to show up.

From Salon

Camille, Andre, and I place our salads with the other side dishes while Dad and Aunt Melissa drag the cooler into a blue tent.

From Literature

“Need I remind you, I don’t know deep-cut Ashkenazi stuff; it’s not my thing. Like, I barely understand kugel. Is it a dessert or a side dish? Is it noodles or is it cheesecake?”

From Literature