> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://james-ebook.gitbook.io/key-words-for-fluency/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://james-ebook.gitbook.io/key-words-for-fluency/section-03-in-the-kitchen/plate.md).

# Plate

## Common expressions

a waiter clears your plate away

drop a plate

smash a plate

pile plates (in the sink)

heap food on your plate

a plate of salad

## Types of plate

an empty plate

a dinner plate

a soup plate

a dirty plate

a clean plate

## Exercises

### Common expressions

1. I ***dropped*** one of my mother’s favorite plates on the floor and it ***smashed***. How can I tell her? She’s going to be very upset.
2. We all rushed to the buffet and ***heaped*** food onto our plates. We were absolutely starving!
3. At the end of the meal, we ***piled*** the dirty plates in the sink and left them overnight.
4. When we had finished eating, the waitress ***cleared*** away our plates, and brought coffee.

### Types of plate

1. Could you get the soup plates, please. It’s ready to serve. (d)
2. Would you *take away* the dinner plates and bring some bowls for the sweet? (c)
3. Waiter! This plate’s dirty. Could you bring me a clean one, please? (b)
4. He *looked up from his empty plate* and asked if there was any more paella. (a)