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adjective

‘Beat the mixture lightly and pour it into individual oven-proof pots.’

‘We need proper sanitation and proper rat-proof construction.’

‘Inclinations towards freedom, however, are not proof against systematic countermeasures.’

‘Maybe it's just as well that we have these idiot-proof tills, because without them the numerically challenged would be all but unemployable and we'd have to support them through a lifetime on the dole.’

‘Work has protected wildlife along the route, including measures to keep a colony of protected great crested newts safe, badger tunnels and deer-proof fencing.’

‘She explained that 12 staff joined colleagues from across the county to update their training in the use of the chemical-proof suits.’

‘Vitally, this interval permitted the whole paper to be proofed before printing.’

3North American Activate (yeast) by the addition of liquid.

‘proof the yeast with the teaspoon of sugar’

‘This morning's recipe was the first he'd found that called for proofing the yeast with warm water and sugar; previous methods had called, somewhat illogically, for the yeast to be added dry to the flour.’

3.1Knead (dough) until light and smooth.

3.2no object(of dough) prove.

‘shape into a baguette and let proof for a few minutes’

‘Brush lightly with egg wash, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to proof until double in volume, about 30 minutes.’

‘If you're proofing at higher temperatures, your dough will rise faster, so you'll need to keep an eye on it.’

Phrases

the proof of the pudding is in the eating

proverb The real value of something can be judged only from practical experience or results and not from appearance or theory.

‘In this, as in every other human endeavour, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

‘I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

‘Whatever about the argument in theory before the films were made, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I suspect that few new Beckett fans will have been created by the series.’

‘‘What he said today I think reduces the chances of us having to move into a confrontational position but the proof of the pudding is in the eating,’ he said.’

‘Well, yes, it can spread somewhat, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and they've been doing this for years and controlling it to extremely low levels.’

‘‘The only thing that matters out here is results and I think you'll find that the proof of the pudding is in the eating,’ he said.’

‘Gerry Adams's statement is very welcome but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

‘Yet, the proof of the pudding is in the eating just as the clearest indicant of merit has always been performance.’

‘This is a small victory, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

‘They say small is beautiful and in the case of the city's new tapas bar, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’

Origin

Middle English preve, from Old French proeve, from late Latin proba, from Latin probare ‘to test, prove’. The change of vowel in late Middle English was due to the influence of prove. Current senses of the verb date from the late 19th century.