Hi there,

Could you please explain the difference between "flood" and "drown"?

I already know "drown" can mean to die by being unable to breathe underwater.

But,

A whole valley was "drowned" when the river was dammed.

The whole town "flooded" when the river burst its banks.

Can you please tell the difference and which one is more serious?

additional questions

He drowned his food in tomato sauce. Why is it a disapproving sentence, according to the Cambridge dictionary?

Thank you:) I hope you have a nice day.

Question

Hi there,

Could you please explain the difference between "flood" and "drown"?

I already know "drown" can mean to die by being unable to breathe underwater.

But,

A whole valley was "drowned" when the river was dammed.

The whole town "flooded" when the river burst its banks.

Can you please tell the difference and which one is more serious?

additional questions

He drowned his food in tomato sauce. Why is it a disapproving sentence, according to the Cambridge dictionary?

Thank you:) I hope you have a nice day.

Answer

The meanings overlap. "Flood" focuses attention on the water or liquid. "Drown" focuses attention on something being submerged in the liquid. "Drown" suggests that something is fully submerged, underneath the surface.

If he "drowned" his food in tomato sauce, it suggests that the food was completely covered up and hidden underneath the sauce. It is disapproving because that it is a way of saying he used too much tomato sauce.

Answer

These idiomatic expressions are why English is so abundant and colourful.

'Drowning the food' implies 'killing' the intended flavours, ruining the cuisine. It is a criticism of the act.

Same really with drowned for flooded, implying destruction, ruination, death, of the valley's natural state, but this time not as a criticism.

Answer

Tomato sauce is very basic.
It’s also very American.
Drowning is metaphorical and extreme. 
So to drown food with ‘ketchup’ is revolting.
Sauces should enhance and give pleasure to your palate…not kill or drown or overwhelm 🙂👍🏾

Answer

A whole valley - this is metaphorical. A valley can’t really drown but it gets your imagination working!
The valley was flooded- literally , really, factually.

Answer

Flood is the fact- drown is the effect

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