hard cheese
Parmesan or gruyère
Hard cheese refers to firm, aged cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, or gouda—varieties with low moisture content that can be sliced or grated.
In British slang, hard cheese expresses unsympathetic acknowledgment of someone's misfortune, roughly equivalent to "tough luck" or "too bad": You missed the last train? Hard cheese, mate.
Solid or resolute
- denseClosely packed together
- crumblyProne to fragmenting
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- granularMade of tiny particles
flaky · brittle · dry · compact · waxy · smooth · grainy · crunch
Dismissive acknowledgment of misfortune
- too badExpression of mild regret
- unfortunateDeserving of pity
- bad luckUnfavorable chance events
- that's lifeResigned acceptance of circumstances
no sympathy · dismissal · indifference · British slang · resignation
Crossed bars or harsh
- shavingRemoving hair with blade
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- charcuteriePreserved meat preparation
- racletteCheese scraped when molten
fondue · risotto · pasta · antipasto · pairing · cubing · slicing · wedge
Firm aged English cheese
- parmesanGranular Italian grating cheese
- goudaSemi-hard Dutch cheese
- pecorinoItalian sheep's milk cheese
- manchegoSpanish sheep cheese
gruyere · asiago · comte · emmental · roquefort · fontina · cotija · aged gouda
Fine-edged, or astute
- tangySharp and lively-tasting
- nuttyEccentric or almond-flavored
- piquantPleasingly sharp-tasting
- robustStrong and durable
intense · savory · salty · pungent · complex · earthy · caramelized · fruity
Process of becoming complete
- cave-agedMatured in underground chambers
- monthsYear's twelve parts
- yearsTwelve-month spans
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
moisture loss · complexity · cellaring · wheels · turning · brining · clothbound
firm
Solid or resolute
- denseClosely packed together
- crumblyProne to fragmenting
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
granular · flaky · brittle · dry · compact · waxy · smooth · grainy · crunch · solid
tough luck
Dismissive acknowledgment of misfortune
- too badExpression of mild regret
- unfortunateDeserving of pity
- bad luckUnfavorable chance events
that's life · no sympathy · dismissal · indifference · British slang · resignation
grating
Crossed bars or harsh
- shavingRemoving hair with blade
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- charcuteriePreserved meat preparation
raclette · fondue · risotto · pasta · antipasto · pairing · cubing · slicing · wedge · rind
cheddar
Firm aged English cheese
- parmesanGranular Italian grating cheese
- goudaSemi-hard Dutch cheese
- pecorinoItalian sheep's milk cheese
manchego · gruyere · asiago · comte · emmental · roquefort · fontina · cotija · aged gouda
sharp
Fine-edged, or astute
robust · intense · savory · salty · pungent · complex · earthy · caramelized · fruity · strong
maturation
Process of becoming complete
moisture loss · sharpness · complexity · cellaring · wheels · turning · brining · clothbound
- cheese typesdouble cream
- cheeseAmerican, asiago, brie, cheddar, gouda
- dairy productsyogurt, butter, milk powder, cream, whole milk
- Cheesescheddar, brie, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella
- Cultured Dairyyogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sour cream, cultured milk
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
hard cheesesoft cheese
Yielding dairy product
cream cheese · Camembert · cottage cheese · ricotta · fresh cheese
hard cheesemy condolences
Expression of shared sorrow
how awful · what a pity · tough break · bad luck · commiserations
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