have a barbecue = have a grill?

[Palalana]

Hello,

I want to say that on Sunday I'm having a barbecue. Can I also say 'I am having a grill' or 'I'm doing a grill'?

 

[sound shift]

"Barbecue" is the normal term in England. I think people here would be puzzled if you said "I'm having a grill" or "I'm doing a grill".

 

[Palalana]

What about the States? Is it the same?

 

[Nunty]

In AE, it would be common to hear something like "I'm grilling steaks", but not "I'm having/doing a grill".

 

[sound shift]

Is the word "barbecue" used in AE?

 

[Nunty]

Is the word "barbecue" used in AE?

Yes, it is. I understood you to ask if you could also say "have a grill" in the same way we say "have a barbecue". Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[sound shift]

Thanks, Nunty.

In AE, does "I'm grilling steaks" imply "outdoors"? It does not do so in BE.

 

[Packard]

When I was growing up it was "having a barbecue party". The "party" later got dropped so we now have a "barbecue".

I cannot imagine the "grilling party" as it sounds like something that Homeland Security does to suspects. Nor does "grill party" work.

So it is (for me) a barbecue [party].

 

[Brioche]

"Barbecue" is the normal term in England. I think people here would be puzzled if you said "I'm having a grill" or "I'm doing a grill".

That is the same situation in Australia, where barbecues are very popular.

 

[sdgraham]

Hello,

I want to say that on Sunday I'm having a barbecue. Can I also say 'I am having a grill' or 'I'm doing a grill'?

It would be understood, but highly unnatural.

For further information, see this previous thread:

barbecue v grill

 

[colcan]

I cannot imagine the "grilling party" as it sounds like something that Homeland Security does to suspects.

Hahaha. Same here. I woudln't want to go through one of those.

In the Pacific Northwest, people hold barbecues or cookouts, but not grills, although we do grill steaks or chicken at the cookouts.