Culinary Critique Terminology

verb to disgust or sicken someone with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment

• The sweetness of the dessert did not cloy the palate of the distinguished guests.
• I love chocolate, but too much of it can cloy my taste buds.
• Eating too much candy can really cloy your sweet tooth.
• The constant praise began to cloy on her, making her doubt its sincerity.

noun a musical term referring to a discordant or unpleasant sound

adjective describing something that is unpleasant or disagreeable

• The pianist hit a sour note during the concert.
• I think you hit a sour note with your joke, no one laughed.
• She always knows how to hit a sour note with her comments.
• The team's loss was a sour note in an otherwise successful season.