smörgåsbord
Lavish food array
Smörgåsbord is a Swedish word for a buffet of varied dishes—cold meats, fish, cheeses, salads, and bread.
In English, it usually means any diverse assortment or wide-ranging collection: The festival offered a smörgåsbord of musical styles.
The literal spread is elaborate and self-serve; the figurative one emphasizes abundance and variety.
Scandinavian country, capital Stockholm
- NordicOf northern Europe
- ScandinavianOf Denmark, Norway, Sweden
- herringSmall silvery Atlantic fish
- gravlaxRaw salmon, salt-cured
meatballs · lingonberry · aquavit · midsummer · dill · crispbread · salmon · beetroot
Mixed collection of things
- medleyVaried mixture or blend
- arrayOrdered collection or display
- selectionChosen item or items
- mixCombine different elements
potpourri · miscellany · cornucopia · mélange · eclectic · diversity · range · sampler
To distribute widely
- self-serviceCustomer performs the task
- cold-cutsPrecooked sliced meats
- plattersLarge serving dishes
- appetizersPre-meal small dishes
hors-d'oeuvres · charcuterie · antipasti · tongs · grazing · deli · canapés · crudités
Sweden
Scandinavian country, capital Stockholm
- NordicOf northern Europe
- ScandinavianOf Denmark, Norway, Sweden
- herringSmall silvery Atlantic fish
gravlax · meatballs · lingonberry · aquavit · midsummer · dill · crispbread · salmon · beetroot · potatoes
assortment
Mixed collection of things
mix · potpourri · miscellany · cornucopia · mélange · eclectic · diversity · range · sampler · abundance
spread
To distribute widely
- self-serviceCustomer performs the task
- cold-cutsPrecooked sliced meats
- plattersLarge serving dishes
appetizers · hors-d'oeuvres · charcuterie · antipasti · tongs · grazing · deli · canapés · crudités · garnishes
smörgåsbordscarcity
Insufficiency of something needed
paucity · dearth · slim pickings · bare minimum · shortage
smörgåsbordset menu
Fixed-price meal selection
prix fixe · table d'hôte · tasting menu · chef's choice · omakase
smörgåsbordmonotony
Tiresome lack of change
uniformity · no choice · homogeneity · sameness · slim pickings