Have you ever felt so hungry that your stomach started growling? That feeling is called hunger. When people feel very hungry, they sometimes use funny or creative expressions to talk about it. These are called idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help us describe things in a fun or interesting way.
In this article, we’ll learn about different idioms people use when they are hungry. You might hear someone say, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” That doesn’t mean they really want to eat a horse—it just means they are very hungry. Let’s explore these idioms and find out what they really mean.
Idioms About Hunger
1. Hungry as a horse
Meaning: Very hungry
Example Sentence:
• After gym class, I was hungry as a horse.
• He said he was hungry as a horse after soccer practice.
Other ways to say: Starving, super hungry
Fun Fact/Origin: This simile comes from how much horses eat.
Usage: Used to describe someone who needs a big meal.
2. I could eat a horse
Meaning: Extremely hungry
Example Sentence:
• I skipped lunch, and now I could eat a horse.
• After swimming, she said she could eat a horse.
Other ways to say: I’m starving, I’m famished
Fun Fact/Origin: People don’t mean this literally—it just shows huge hunger.
Usage: Said when someone feels very, very hungry.
3. Eat like a bird
Meaning: Eat very little
Example Sentence:
• She eats like a bird—just a few bites.
• He eats like a bird and never finishes his plate.
Other ways to say: Nibble, snack
Fun Fact/Origin: Birds eat small amounts at a time, even if often.
Usage: Used to talk about someone who doesn’t eat much.
4. Eat like a pig
Meaning: Eat messily or too much
Example Sentence:
• He ate like a pig at the party.
• Don’t eat like a pig—use your napkin!
Other ways to say: Gobble, scarf down
Fun Fact/Origin: Pigs are known for eating quickly and messily.
Usage: Used to describe messy or greedy eating.
5. Grab a bite
Meaning: Have a quick meal
Example Sentence:
• Let’s grab a bite before the movie.
• We grabbed a bite after school.
Other ways to say: Have a snack, eat something fast
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bite” refers to a small amount of food.
Usage: Said when planning to eat quickly or on the go.
6. Starving to death
Meaning: Very, very hungry
Example Sentence:
• I missed lunch and I’m starving to death.
• After practice, she said she was starving to death.
Other ways to say: Famished, starving
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s not real starvation—just a way to say you’re really hungry.
Usage: Used when someone is very hungry, not actually starving.
7. Wolf down
Meaning: Eat quickly and eagerly
Example Sentence:
• He wolfed down his dinner in five minutes.
• She wolfed down her sandwich at lunch.
Other ways to say: Devour, gobble up
Fun Fact/Origin: Wolves eat fast and fiercely, just like the phrase.
Usage: Used when someone eats in a hurry.
8. Bite to eat
Meaning: Something small to eat
Example Sentence:
• We stopped for a bite to eat after school.
• Let’s get a bite to eat at the diner.
Other ways to say: Snack, quick meal
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bite” means a small portion of food.
Usage: Used when talking about eating a small amount.
9. Stuff your face
Meaning: Eat a lot quickly
Example Sentence:
• He stuffed his face with pizza.
• They stuffed their faces at the party.
Other ways to say: Pig out, eat a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s a casual way to talk about overeating.
Usage: Used to talk about someone eating too much or too fast.
10. Eat someone out of house and home
Meaning: Eat a huge amount, like there’s nothing left
Example Sentence:
• My cousin eats us out of house and home!
• He’s eating me out of house and home during the holidays.
Other ways to say: Eat everything, eat nonstop
Fun Fact/Origin: Old English phrase about someone eating all your food.
Usage: Used when someone eats almost everything available.
11. Have the munchies
Meaning: Feel like eating snacks
Example Sentence:
• I had the munchies after watching TV.
• She got the munchies during the movie.
Other ways to say: Crave snacks, feel snacky
Fun Fact/Origin: “Munchies” comes from the word “munch,” meaning to chew.
Usage: Used when someone wants to snack.
12. Grab some grub
Meaning: Get some food
Example Sentence:
• Let’s grab some grub before the game.
• We grabbed some grub at the food court.
Other ways to say: Get something to eat, eat food
Fun Fact/Origin: “Grub” is a slang word for food.
Usage: Used in a casual way to say you’re going to eat.
13. A growling stomach
Meaning: When your stomach makes noises because you’re hungry
Example Sentence:
• My stomach started growling in class.
• His growling stomach made everyone laugh.
Other ways to say: Hungry tummy, belly rumbles
Fun Fact/Origin: Stomach sounds are real signs of hunger.
Usage: Used when your body shows signs of needing food.
14. Dig in
Meaning: Start eating
Example Sentence:
• The food’s ready—dig in!
• We sat down and dug in right away.
Other ways to say: Start your meal, eat up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from digging with a spoon or fork.
Usage: Said when it’s time to begin eating.
15. Eat like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: Eat a lot, like it’s your last chance
Example Sentence:
• He ate like there was no tomorrow at the party.
• We ate like there was no tomorrow after the game.
Other ways to say: Eat a ton, overeat
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s a way to say someone is eating like it’s their last meal.
Usage: Used to describe overeating in a funny way.
16. Food for thought
Meaning: Something to think about
Example Sentence:
• That speech gave me food for thought.
• Her question was real food for thought.
Other ways to say: Something to think over, deep idea
Fun Fact/Origin: Food for the mind, not the stomach.
Usage: Not about eating—used for thoughtful ideas.
17. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: Try to do too much
Example Sentence:
• He bit off more than he could chew with all that homework.
• She bit off more than she could chew by joining two teams.
Other ways to say: Take on too much, overdo it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from taking too big a bite of food.
Usage: Used to show someone tried more than they could handle.
18. Stuffed to the gills
Meaning: Extremely full
Example Sentence:
• After Thanksgiving, I was stuffed to the gills.
• He was stuffed to the gills after eating three burgers.
Other ways to say: Totally full, can’t eat another bite
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gills” are parts of fish, but here it means totally full.
Usage: Used when you’ve eaten too much.
19. Fill your belly
Meaning: Eat enough to feel full
Example Sentence:
• That soup filled my belly.
• I just want to fill my belly and relax.
Other ways to say: Satisfy your hunger, eat well
Fun Fact/Origin: “Belly” is another word for stomach.
Usage: Used when you get just the right amount of food.
20. Make your mouth water
Meaning: Look or smell so good it makes you hungry
Example Sentence:
• That pizza makes my mouth water!
• The cookies made everyone’s mouths water.
Other ways to say: Looks delicious, smells great
Fun Fact/Origin: Real saliva increases when you see tasty food.
Usage: Used when food looks or smells very good.
21. Eyes bigger than your stomach
Meaning: Take more food than you can eat
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t finish his plate—his eyes were bigger than his stomach.
• I thought I could eat two burgers, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
Other ways to say: Took too much, ordered too much
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like your eyes want more than your belly can handle.
Usage: Used when someone takes more food than they can eat.
22. Feed your face
Meaning: Eat a lot, often fast
Example Sentence:
• He was feeding his face with fries.
• We fed our faces at the family BBQ.
Other ways to say: Chow down, stuff your face
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant in a fun, casual way—not rude.
Usage: Used when someone eats a lot quickly.
23. Eat like a horse
Meaning: Eat a lot
Example Sentence:
• She eats like a horse after swim practice.
• He eats like a horse and never gains weight.
Other ways to say: Big appetite, eats tons
Fun Fact/Origin: Horses can eat a lot daily.
Usage: Used to talk about someone who eats a lot.
24. Devour something
Meaning: Eat something quickly
Example Sentence:
• He devoured his sandwich in seconds.
• They devoured the cookies right away.
Other ways to say: Gobble up, scarf down
Fun Fact/Origin: “Devour” means to eat greedily.
Usage: Used when someone eats fast and hungrily.
25. Ravenous appetite
Meaning: Very strong hunger
Example Sentence:
• I had a ravenous appetite after soccer.
• Her ravenous appetite surprised everyone.
Other ways to say: Super hungry, starving
Fun Fact/Origin: “Ravenous” comes from “raven,” a bird known to eat eagerly.
Usage: Used when someone is extremely hungry.
26. Scarf it down
Meaning: Eat something quickly
Example Sentence:
• He scarfed down the hot dog before the bell.
• She scarfed her lunch because she was late.
Other ways to say: Eat fast, gobble
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s American slang from the 20th century.
Usage: Used when someone eats quickly.
27. Bottomless pit
Meaning: Always hungry
Example Sentence:
• My brother is a bottomless pit—he never gets full!
• You’re like a bottomless pit today!
Other ways to say: Always eating, never full
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a hole with no end—you keep putting food in.
Usage: Used to describe someone who eats a lot often.
28. Cook up a storm
Meaning: Make a lot of food
Example Sentence:
• Mom cooked up a storm for the party.
• They cooked up a storm for Thanksgiving.
Other ways to say: Make a feast, prepare a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a storm, it means something big is happening—here, in the kitchen.
Usage: Used when someone prepares a lot of food.
29. Eat your heart out
Meaning: Be jealous of someone’s food or actions
Example Sentence:
• Eat your heart out—we got pizza!
• He posted his giant sundae and wrote, “Eat your heart out!”
Other ways to say: Be jealous, look what I’ve got
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to brag a little in a playful way.
Usage: Used jokingly when showing off food or good things.
30. Chow down
Meaning: Start eating eagerly
Example Sentence:
• Let’s chow down before the movie starts.
• Everyone chowed down at the picnic.
Other ways to say: Dig in, eat up
Fun Fact/Origin: “Chow” is slang for food, “chow down” means to eat it.
Usage: Used to say “let’s eat” in a fun way.
31. Craving something
Meaning: Really want to eat something
Example Sentence:
• I’m craving ice cream.
• She’s craving salty snacks today.
Other ways to say: Want badly, have a taste for
Fun Fact/Origin: Cravings can be physical or emotional.
Usage: Used when someone strongly wants a food.
32. Fill up
Meaning: Eat until you feel full
Example Sentence:
• He filled up on pancakes.
• Let’s fill up before heading out.
Other ways to say: Satisfy hunger, eat enough
Fun Fact/Origin: Used like filling a tank, but for your stomach.
Usage: Used to talk about feeling full after eating.
33. Food coma
Meaning: Sleepy feeling after eating too much
Example Sentence:
• I fell into a food coma after lunch.
• He had a food coma after Thanksgiving dinner.
Other ways to say: Overfull, sleepy from eating
Fun Fact/Origin: Not a real coma—it’s just a fun way to say you’re tired from eating.
Usage: Used after eating a heavy meal.
34. Eat on the go
Meaning: Eat while busy or moving
Example Sentence:
• She eats on the go between school and practice.
• We had to eat on the go before our trip.
Other ways to say: Eat quickly, snack while moving
Fun Fact/Origin: People with busy lives often eat while walking or traveling.
Usage: Used when you don’t sit down to eat.
35. Running on empty
Meaning: Very hungry or tired from not eating
Example Sentence:
• I’m running on empty—I need lunch!
• He was running on empty after gym class.
Other ways to say: Low energy, need food
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from car fuel running low—your body needs fuel too.
Usage: Used when someone needs food soon.
36. Pig out
Meaning: Eat too much
Example Sentence:
• We pigged out on snacks during the sleepover.
• He pigged out at the buffet.
Other ways to say: Overeat, stuff yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to pigs eating a lot.
Usage: Used when someone eats way too much.
37. Can’t stomach it
Meaning: Can’t eat or tolerate it
Example Sentence:
• I can’t stomach spicy food.
• He can’t stomach the smell of fish.
Other ways to say: Don’t like it, can’t handle it
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the feeling in your belly.
Usage: Used when you really dislike a food.
38. Have a sweet tooth
Meaning: Love sweet foods
Example Sentence:
• She has a sweet tooth and eats candy every day.
• I have a sweet tooth for chocolate.
Other ways to say: Love sugar, love desserts
Fun Fact/Origin: Doesn’t mean your tooth is sweet—it’s just a fun phrase.
Usage: Used when someone loves sugary treats.
39. Feed the beast
Meaning: Give yourself food when super hungry
Example Sentence:
• Time to feed the beast—I’m starving.
• He said he had to feed the beast after football.
Other ways to say: Eat a lot, fuel up
Fun Fact/Origin: “Beast” is a funny way to describe hunger.
Usage: Used in a playful way when someone’s super hungry.
40. Belly’s growling
Meaning: Stomach is making hungry noises
Example Sentence:
• My belly’s growling—what’s for dinner?
• His belly was growling during class.
Other ways to say: Stomach noises, hungry sounds
Fun Fact/Origin: Your belly really does make sounds when hungry.
Usage: Used when someone’s body is asking for food.
Quiz: Idioms About Hunger
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “eat like a bird” mean?
A) Eat a lot
B) Eat very little
C) Eat messy
2. If your “belly’s growling,” what does that mean?
A) You’re angry
B) You’re full
C) You’re hungry
3. What does “wolf down” mean?
A) Eat quickly
B) Eat politely
C) Eat only fruit
4. If someone says “I could eat a horse,” what do they mean?
A) They love horses
B) They want a snack
C) They’re very hungry
5. What does “stuff your face” mean?
A) Wipe your face
B) Eat a lot quickly
C) Sing loudly
6. If someone “has a sweet tooth,” what do they love?
A) Salty snacks
B) Spicy food
C) Sweets
7. What does “grab a bite” mean?
A) Eat something quickly
B) Take a nap
C) Watch a show
8. If someone is a “bottomless pit,” what are they like?
A) They don’t eat
B) They eat a lot and never seem full
C) They cook all day
9. What does “running on empty” mean?
A) You’re hungry or low on energy
B) You’re full
C) You’re sleeping
10. What does “food for thought” mean?
A) Something to eat
B) Something interesting to think about
C) Something to share
11. What does “pig out” mean?
A) Play in the mud
B) Eat a little
C) Eat too much
12. If someone’s “eyes are bigger than their stomach,” what happened?
A) They ate too fast
B) They took more food than they could eat
C) They didn’t eat anything
13. What does “make your mouth water” mean?
A) The food looks or smells very good
B) You are drinking water
C) You are brushing your teeth
14. If you “chow down,” what are you doing?
A) Cooking food
B) Throwing food
C) Eating eagerly
15. What does “can’t stomach it” mean?
A) Love the taste
B) Can’t eat or handle it
C) Want more of it
Answer Key
- B – Eat very little
- C – You’re hungry
- A – Eat quickly
- C – They’re very hungry
- B – Eat a lot quickly
- C – Sweets
- A – Eat something quickly
- B – They eat a lot and never seem full
- A – You’re hungry or low on energy
- B – Something interesting to think about
- C – Eat too much
- B – They took more food than they could eat
- A – The food looks or smells very good
- C – Eating eagerly
- B – Can’t eat or handle it
Wrapping Up
Idioms about hunger help people talk about being hungry in fun and interesting ways. These sayings don’t always mean exactly what they say, but they show how we feel. Now that you’ve learned some of them, try using a few the next time you’re hungry or hear someone else talk about food. You might be surprised how often people use them!
