Food idioms
31 words
19 learners
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Full list of words from this list:
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bread-and-butter issue
an issue whose settlement will affect financial resourcesBottoms up!
- everybody should drink now (this expression is used at the end of a drinking toast)
"Bottoms up," our host said at the beginning of the dinner.
bread and butter
- one's income or job that is used to buy the basic needs of life like food or shelter or clothing
Most people are worried about bread-and-butter issues like jobs and taxes.
bread and water
- the most basic meal that is possible (like you would get in prison)
The prisoners were fed bread and water for severa... -
duck soup
any undertaking that is easy to doacquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
big enchilada
an important influential personacquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
wine and dine
eat sumptuouslyIt was like teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
teething problems
- difficulties or problems that happen in the early stages of a project or activity
The new project which we were trying to start had many teething problems.
that's the way the cookie crumbles
- that's life, those things happen
That's the way the cookie crumbles, I thought when I learned that I would not get the new job.
there is no such thing as a free lunch
- you cannot get something without working for it or paying ... -
chew the fat
talk socially without exchanging too much informationI think that I bought a lemon.
can't stomach (someone or something)
- to dislike or hate someone or something
I cannot stomach the idea of meeting my old girlfriend.
carrot and stick
- the reward for someone to do what you want or the punishment if they do not do what you want
The government took a carrot-and-stick approach to remove the people who were protesting against the construction of the dam.
cheese (someone) off or cheese off (someone)
- to annoy or irritate or anger someone
I... -
couch potato
an idler who spends much time on a couchI do not know what my girlfriend is cooking up for the weekend but we will probably do something interesting.
cook up a storm
- to prepare a large quantity of food
My friend cooked up a storm for the party.
couch potato
- someone who spends a lot of time on a couch watching television
My cousin is a couch potato and he never wants to leave his house.
cream of the crop
- the best of a group, the top choice
Our company is always able to hire the cream of the crop of university gra... -
spill the beans
divulge confidential information or secretsThe government wants a slice of the cake from the new casinos.
small potatoes
- something that is not very big or important compared with other things or people
The amount of money for the stadium is small potatoes compared to the total cost of the Olympics.
so clean you can eat off the floor
- very clean
My mother's kitchen is so clean that you can eat off the floor.
soup up (something) or soup (something) up
- to make something faster or more powerful by changing or adding something ... -
salt mine
a mine where salt is dugacquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
take the cake
rank first; used often in a negative contextThe government wants a slice of the cake from the new casinos.
small potatoes
- something that is not very big or important compared with other things or people
The amount of money for the stadium is small potatoes compared to the total cost of the Olympics.
so clean you can eat off the floor
- very clean
My mother's kitchen is so clean that you can eat off the floor.
soup up (something) or soup (something) up
- to make something faster or more powerful by changing or adding something ... -
hot potato
a difficult situationThe past is past and you cannot change it.
(not one's) cup of tea
- something that one does not enjoy or do well (usually used in the negative)
Going to art galleries is not my cup of tea so I think that I will stay home this evening.
cut the mustard
- to succeed, to do adequately what needs to be done
The young man was not able to cut the mustard and he had to leave the army after only one year.
dine out
- to eat a meal at a restaurant
I love to dine out at good restaurants.
done to ... -
butter up
flatter with the intention of getting somethingBottoms up!
- everybody should drink now (this expression is used at the end of a drinking toast)
"Bottoms up," our host said at the beginning of the dinner.
bread and butter
- one's income or job that is used to buy the basic needs of life like food or shelter or clothing
Most people are worried about bread-and-butter issues like jobs and taxes.
bread and water
- the most basic meal that is possible (like you would get in prison)
The prisoners were fed bread and water for several days ... -
top banana
the most important person in a group or undertakingIt was like teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
teething problems
- difficulties or problems that happen in the early stages of a project or activity
The new project which we were trying to start had many teething problems.
that's the way the cookie crumbles
- that's life, those things happen
That's the way the cookie crumbles, I thought when I learned that I would not get the new job.
there is no such thing as a free lunch
- you cannot get something without working for it or paying ... -
good egg
(old-fashioned slang) a good personIt is either feast or famine.
everything from soup to nuts
- almost everything that one can think of
We brought everything from soup to nuts for our weekend holiday.
eyes are bigger than one's stomach
- the amount of food that one takes is greater than what one could possibly eat
My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I took too much food at the buffet dinner.
fat is in the fire
- a situation is bad or a person has serious problems
The fat is in the fire and the deadline is fast appro... -
meal ticket
coupon entitling the holder to eat at a restaurantIt was like taking candy from a baby.
like two peas in a pod
- very close or intimate with someone
The sisters are like two peas in a pod and they do everything together.
live high off/on the hog
- to live well and eat good food
The woman lives high on the hog when she goes away on a business trip.
live off the fat of the land
- to grow one's own food, to live on the resources of the land
The family lives off the fat of the land on their small farm.
make a meal of (something)
- to ea... -
big cheese
an important influential personacquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
bring home the bacon
supply means of subsistence; earn a livingBottoms up!
- everybody should drink now (this expression is used at the end of a drinking toast)
"Bottoms up," our host said at the beginning of the dinner.
bread and butter
- one's income or job that is used to buy the basic needs of life like food or shelter or clothing
Most people are worried about bread-and-butter issues like jobs and taxes.
bread and water
- the most basic meal that is possible (like you would get in prison)
The prisoners were fed bread and water for several days ... -
gravy train
income obtained with a minimum of effortNow my goose is cooked and I am in much trouble.
grab a bite to eat
- to eat something (usually quickly)
I will grab a bite to eat after the game today.
gravy train
- a job or some work that pays more than it is worth
The job was a gravy train and I earned much money there.
greatest thing since sliced bread
- the greatest thing that there has ever been
My mother believes that the microwave oven is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
grist for the mill
- something that can b... -
bad egg
(old-fashioned slang) a bad personacquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
kettle of fish
informal terms for a difficult situationIt is either feast or famine.
everything from soup to nuts
- almost everything that one can think of
We brought everything from soup to nuts for our weekend holiday.
eyes are bigger than one's stomach
- the amount of food that one takes is greater than what one could possibly eat
My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I took too much food at the buffet dinner.
fat is in the fire
- a situation is bad or a person has serious problems
The fat is in the fire and the deadline is fast appro... -
sweet tooth
a strong appetite for sweet foodNow my goose is cooked and I am in much trouble.
grab a bite to eat
- to eat something (usually quickly)
I will grab a bite to eat after the game today.
gravy train
- a job or some work that pays more than it is worth
The job was a gravy train and I earned much money there.
greatest thing since sliced bread
- the greatest thing that there has ever been
My mother believes that the microwave oven is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
grist for the mill
- something that can be used ... -
pea soup
a thick soup made of dried peas (usually made into a puree)acquire a taste for (something)
- to develop a liking for some kind of food or drink or something else
My friend has recently acquired a taste for classical music.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- someone or something that one likes a lot or likes more than others
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather`s eye.
as black as a skillet
- very black
The little boy's feet were as black as a skillet.
as busy as popcorn on a skillet
- very active
The children were as busy as popcorn on a sk... -
free lunch
something acquired without effort or payment or obligationIt was like teaching my grandmother to suck eggs.
teething problems
- difficulties or problems that happen in the early stages of a project or activity
The new project which we were trying to start had many teething problems.
that's the way the cookie crumbles
- that's life, those things happen
That's the way the cookie crumbles, I thought when I learned that I would not get the new job.
there is no such thing as a free lunch
- you cannot get something without working for it or ... -
meat and potatoes
the fundamental partIt was like taking candy from a baby.
like two peas in a pod
- very close or intimate with someone
The sisters are like two peas in a pod and they do everything together.
live high off/on the hog
- to live well and eat good food
The woman lives high on the hog when she goes away on a business trip.
live off the fat of the land
- to grow one's own food, to live on the resources of the land
The family lives off the fat of the land on their small farm.
make a meal of (something)
- to ea... -
salad days
the best time of youth- Drink up! (a drinking toast)
"Here's mud in your eye," I said as we drank a toast to my new job.
hit the sauce
- to drink alcohol regularly
I think that my neighbor began to hit the sauce after her husband lost his job.
hot potato
- a question or argument that is controversial and difficult to settle
The issue of building the nuclear power plant is a hot potato for the town council.
icing on the cake
- something that makes a good situation or activity even better
I found a good job a... -
piece of cake
any undertaking that is easy to doNow her problems are much worse.
out to lunch
- to be crazy, to be uninformed
The woman is out to lunch and you should never believe what she tells you.
out to lunch
- to be eating lunch away from one's work
The bank manager was out to lunch when I went to meet him.
packed in like sardines
- to be packed in very tightly
The commuters were packed in like sardines in the subway car.
pick at (something)
- to eat only little bits of something
The boy is sick and will only pick at his foo... -
half-baked
not thoroughly cookedNow my goose is cooked and I am in much trouble.
grab a bite to eat
- to eat something (usually quickly)
I will grab a bite to eat after the game today.
gravy train
- a job or some work that pays more than it is worth
The job was a gravy train and I earned much money there.
greatest thing since sliced bread
- the greatest thing that there has ever been
My mother believes that the microwave oven is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
grist for the mill
- something that can be used ... -
eat up
use up (resources or materials)If our team does win the game today I will eat my hat.
eat one's heart out
- to be envious of someone or something
I ate my heart out when I saw my friend's new bicycle.
eat one`s words
- to take back something that one has said, to admit that something is not true
I told my boss that I would soon quit my job but later I had to eat my words and tell him that I wanted to stay.
eat out
- to eat a meal in a restaurant
My aunt and uncle eat out often at nice restaurants.
eat out of (someo... -
forbidden fruit
anything that is tempting but dangerousIt is either feast or famine.
everything from soup to nuts
- almost everything that one can think of
We brought everything from soup to nuts for our weekend holiday.
eyes are bigger than one's stomach
- the amount of food that one takes is greater than what one could possibly eat
My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I took too much food at the buffet dinner.
fat is in the fire
- a situation is bad or a person has serious problems
The fat is in the fire and the deadline is fast appro... -
in a nutshell
summed up briefly- Drink up! (a drinking toast)
"Here's mud in your eye," I said as we drank a toast to my new job.
hit the sauce
- to drink alcohol regularly
I think that my neighbor began to hit the sauce after her husband lost his job.
hot potato
- a question or argument that is controversial and difficult to settle
The issue of building the nuclear power plant is a hot potato for the town council.
icing on the cake
- something that makes a good situation or activity even better
I found a good job a... -
silver spoon
the inherited wealth of established upper-class familiesShe would often binge and purge her food.
bite off more than one can chew
- to try to do or eat more than you can manage
I bit off more than I can chew when I began to work in the evening.
bite the hand that feeds one
- to harm someone who does good things for you
I do not want to make my company angry because I do not want to bite the hand that feeds me.
bitter pill to swallow
- something unpleasant that one must accept
It was a bitter pill to swallow when I learned that I would not g... -
food for thought
anything that provides mental stimulus for thinkingIt is either feast or famine.
everything from soup to nuts
- almost everything that one can think of
We brought everything from soup to nuts for our weekend holiday.
eyes are bigger than one's stomach
- the amount of food that one takes is greater than what one could possibly eat
My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I took too much food at the buffet dinner.
fat is in the fire
- a situation is bad or a person has serious problems
The fat is in the fire and the deadline is fast appro...
Created on Wed Nov 28 13:56:46 EST 2012
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