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Common Food Idioms in English

Common Food Idioms in English

International English Test Editorial Team·21 Jan 2024·3 min read

If you’re seeking a comprehensive collection of frequently used English food idioms, your search ends here. In this guide, we analyze each food-related expression and provide explanations for their meanings.

Food idioms are prevalent in everyday English discourse as they can inject some zest into our conversations. Knowing them can be beneficial, especially for those learning English as a second language.

This article will explore several widely used food idioms and provide explanations for their meanings, enabling you to incorporate them into your conversations. Let’s begin.

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Have bigger fish to fry

This idiom is quite intriguing. It signifies having tasks or priorities that are more significant.

Examples:

  • Sue won’t come. She has bigger fish to fry.

Walk on eggshells

This expression implies being extremely cautious to avoid upsetting or offending someone.

Examples:

  • David was walking on eggshells around his boss all the week.

 Eat like a horse

The final food-related expression in this compilation signifies “consuming a substantial quantity of food.”

Examples:

  • My husband eats like a horse.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/v3Kw51WO6ps?feature=oembed

Piece of cake

What is your interpretation of this idiom? If you think it conveys “something that is easy or simple to do,” you are correct.

Examples:

  • The math test was a piece of cake.

To go bananas

I find this particular English food idiom quite amusing, and that’s why I chose to feature it in this list. It denotes “going crazy” or “acting without self-control or restraint.”

Examples:

  • He went bananas when she started yelling at him in front of all guests.

Bring home the bacon

This expression signifies “engaging in work to earn money, particularly to provide for a family or household.”

Examples:

  • My husband brings home the bacon.

Hard nut to crack

You might have already inferred the meaning of this idiom. It denotes “something that is challenging,” and can apply to either a person or a problem.

Examples:

  • He is a hard nut to crack.

Like two peas in a pod

This particular food idiom signifies “two things that are extremely similar, virtually identical,” much like two peas found together in the same pod.

Examples:

  • They’re like two peas in a pod.

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Our journey into exploring food idioms in the English language has come to a close. We trust that you have acquired understanding regarding the meanings and usage of these expressions.

Integrating food idioms into your writing and conversations can infuse them with interest and humor, enhancing your ability to connect with others. So, consider incorporating your favorites into your upcoming English conversations.

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Find out your A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 level of English with our online test and receive your English certificate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It means you have tasks or priorities that are more significant or important than the one currently being discussed. You use it to explain why something minor is not worth your time. For example, "Sue won't come. She has bigger fish to fry" tells listeners that Sue is busy with matters she considers far more pressing.
You use it to describe behaving extremely cautiously to avoid upsetting or offending someone. It captures the tension of choosing every word and action carefully around a sensitive person. A natural example is "David was walking on eggshells around his boss all the week," meaning he stayed careful so he would not anger his boss.
"Eat like a horse" means consuming a substantial quantity of food, as in "My husband eats like a horse." "Go bananas" is unrelated to appetite and instead means going crazy or acting without self-control, as in "He went bananas when she started yelling at him." One describes a large appetite, the other describes losing control emotionally.
It means something is easy or simple to do, not that it tastes good. The phrase compares a simple task to eating a slice of cake, which takes no effort. For example, "The math test was a piece of cake" means the test was very easy to complete, with no comment on flavour or food at all.
It describes something or someone that is challenging to understand, deal with, or solve. The phrase can apply to a difficult person or a tricky problem, as in "He is a hard nut to crack," meaning he is difficult to get to know or persuade. The image is a nut whose tough shell resists being opened.
You say it when two things or people are extremely similar, almost identical, much like two peas growing together in the same pod. It often describes close friends or relatives who look or behave alike. The example "They're like two peas in a pod" suggests the pair share strong resemblance or are nearly inseparable in their habits.
It means working to earn money, especially to provide for a family or household. The bacon stands in for income that supports the home. In the sentence "My husband brings home the bacon," it states that he is the one earning the wages that keep the household running, rather than literally buying bacon at the shop.
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International English Test Editorial Team

ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023

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