What Is A Pickle?

The word "pickle" can mean different things. In common use, it can mean "bind" or "predicament". For instance, the phrase, "She's really in a pickle," means she's stuck in a difficult situation. A bit like being up the creek without a paddle!

"Pickle" in the UK can also refer to a type of condiment that is made from vegetables, herbs, vinegar and sugar. It is often served as part of a Ploughman's Platter, which includes apples and cheese. "Pickle" usually has a bit of a bite to it; tastes twangy.

"A pickle" in the USA is similar to the UK pickle, in that it uses vinegar and sugar. However, "a pickle" is a cucumber that has literally been "pickled". That means it has been left to sit in a jar full water that is flavoured with herbs, vinegar and sugar. There are sweet pickles, which taste sweet-sour and dill pickles, which have more of a bite.

Pickles are foods (usually vegetables) which are kept in brine (salty water) vinegar or another preservative to keep them fresh. IN former times, before refrigeration etc, this proces was very important for ensuring that people got enough vegetables etc in winter.

The pickling process makes them taste quite sharp, but many people find pickled foods very tasty. Typical foods preserved in this way are onions, cabbage, some kinds of fish such as herrings, cucumber (gherkins in UK English) and eggs. Pickled foods are usually eaten as an accompaniment to cold meat, bread, salads etc.

As an idiom "to be in a pickle" means to be in trouble, usually not very serious. "To be pickled" is a slang term meaning to be drunk (this probably comes from the fact that alcohol is a preservative which can be used in the pickling process.)

My understanding of pickle, is anything preserved in vinegar. Vinegar is wine which has had the the alcohol cooked off or evaporated off. Here in England you commonly see large jars of pickled eggs ... Yuck. The very idea makes me feel ill. But pickled onions...mmmm, lovely.

My better half is American, and to her a Pickle is only one thing..... A pickled gherkin. None of our delicacies like pickled cabbage or cauliflower..... Poor things. Lol

A pickle is a food that is preserved using a vinegar ^^,

It is that bumpy green thing that you eat!!!!!