When we talk about health, we often hear different phrases people use to explain body size, habits, and lifestyle. Some of these phrases are idioms. Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They help make language more interesting and fun. In this article, we will look at idioms that people use when talking about obesity. These sayings are used in movies, books, or everyday talk.
These idioms can sometimes be silly, and sometimes they can be hurtful. It’s important to understand what they mean so we can use them the right way. Learning about these expressions also helps us think about how we speak to others. We should always be kind and respectful. Let’s take a look at some common idioms related to obesity and learn what they really mean.
Idioms About Obesity
1. Big as a house
Meaning: Very large in size or weight
Example Sentence:
• After the holidays, I felt as big as a house.
• He joked that his dog was getting as big as a house.
Other ways to say: Very large, huge
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase compares a person’s size to a house, which is clearly very big.
Usage: Used in a humorous way, but can be offensive if directed at someone.
2. Built like a tank
Meaning: Strong and heavy in build
Example Sentence:
• The football player was built like a tank.
• She lifted the heavy box easily—she’s built like a tank.
Other ways to say: Solid, sturdy
Fun Fact/Origin: Tanks are large and strong vehicles, often used in war.
Usage: Often used to describe someone strong and big.
3. Eating like a horse
Meaning: Eating a lot of food
Example Sentence:
• He eats like a horse after soccer practice.
• My brother always eats like a horse at dinner.
Other ways to say: Eats a lot, always hungry
Fun Fact/Origin: Horses eat a lot every day, so this idiom shows big appetite.
Usage: Used to describe big eating habits.
4. Let himself go
Meaning: Stopped caring about appearance or health
Example Sentence:
• He let himself go after college.
• She said he’s let himself go and doesn’t exercise anymore.
Other ways to say: Gave up on staying fit, stopped trying
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows change in someone’s lifestyle.
Usage: Often used to talk about someone gaining weight.
5. A few pounds overweight
Meaning: Heavier than what is healthy or usual
Example Sentence:
• The doctor said I was a few pounds overweight.
• He gained a few pounds over winter break.
Other ways to say: Gained weight, not slim
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase sounds softer than saying “fat.”
Usage: Used in health talks or polite conversations.
6. Tip the scales
Meaning: Weighs a lot
Example Sentence:
• He tips the scales at over 300 pounds.
• The dog tipped the scales at 80 pounds.
Other ways to say: Weighs heavily, is very heavy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the old way of using a balance scale.
Usage: Often used in reports about weight.
7. A walking refrigerator
Meaning: Someone very big and solid
Example Sentence:
• The wrestler looked like a walking refrigerator.
• He blocked the door like a walking refrigerator.
Other ways to say: Large person, broad build
Fun Fact/Origin: Refrigerators are large and blocky, like some body shapes.
Usage: Often used as a joke, but can be hurtful.
8. Fat chance
Meaning: Very little chance of something happening
Example Sentence:
• Fat chance he’ll skip dessert!
• Fat chance I’ll win the race with no practice.
Other ways to say: Almost no chance, very unlikely
Fun Fact/Origin: It sounds like it means “big chance,” but really means the opposite.
Usage: Used to show doubt.
9. Couch potato
Meaning: Someone who sits around and watches TV all day
Example Sentence:
• Don’t be a couch potato—go outside and play!
• My cousin is a couch potato on weekends.
Other ways to say: Lazy person, inactive
Fun Fact/Origin: A potato just sits there—like a person not moving on a couch.
Usage: Used to talk about someone with a lazy lifestyle.
10. Heavyset
Meaning: Having a large body frame
Example Sentence:
• The man was heavyset but very friendly.
• She’s a heavyset woman with a kind smile.
Other ways to say: Large build, broad
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a softer, more polite way to describe size.
Usage: Often used in kind, respectful descriptions.
11. Put on weight
Meaning: Gained weight
Example Sentence:
• I put on weight over the summer.
• He put on weight after quitting sports.
Other ways to say: Gained pounds, got heavier
Fun Fact/Origin: Common phrase in daily talk about body changes.
Usage: Used casually when talking about weight gain.
12. Eat your weight in
Meaning: Eat a lot of something
Example Sentence:
• He could eat his weight in pizza.
• She almost ate her weight in candy on Halloween.
Other ways to say: Eats a lot, big appetite
Fun Fact/Origin: Funny image of eating as much as you weigh.
Usage: Used in a silly or playful way.
13. Packing on the pounds
Meaning: Gaining weight
Example Sentence:
• I’ve been packing on the pounds this winter.
• He packed on the pounds after he stopped walking daily.
Other ways to say: Gaining weight, adding fat
Fun Fact/Origin: Like packing things into a suitcase—except it’s body weight.
Usage: Used in casual talk.
14. Love handles
Meaning: Fat around the sides of the waist
Example Sentence:
• He joked about his love handles at the beach.
• I want to get rid of these love handles.
Other ways to say: Belly fat, side chub
Fun Fact/Origin: The name sounds silly, but it’s a real area people talk about.
Usage: Often used when talking about workouts or body image.
15. Belly like a bowl of jelly
Meaning: A soft, jiggly belly
Example Sentence:
• His belly shook like a bowl of jelly.
• Santa’s belly is like a bowl of jelly.
Other ways to say: Jiggly stomach, round belly
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in poems or holiday songs.
Usage: Usually humorous.
16. Carrying extra baggage
Meaning: Having extra weight
Example Sentence:
• He’s carrying some extra baggage around his middle.
• I started carrying extra baggage after college.
Other ways to say: Extra weight, body fat
Fun Fact/Origin: Sounds like luggage but means body weight.
Usage: Often used gently when talking about weight.
17. Like a butterball
Meaning: Round and chubby, like a turkey
Example Sentence:
• The baby was cute like a butterball.
• He joked that he felt like a butterball after Thanksgiving.
Other ways to say: Chubby, plump
Fun Fact/Origin: Butterball is a turkey brand known for round birds.
Usage: Often playful but can be teasing.
18. Built like a barrel
Meaning: Round and thick
Example Sentence:
• He was short and built like a barrel.
• The man had a chest like a barrel.
Other ways to say: Sturdy, thick body
Fun Fact/Origin: Barrels are wide and round, like some body types.
Usage: Used to describe body shape.
19. Weigh a ton
Meaning: Very heavy
Example Sentence:
• After dinner, I felt like I weighed a ton.
• That suitcase feels like it weighs a ton!
Other ways to say: Extremely heavy, big weight
Fun Fact/Origin: A ton is 2,000 pounds—this idiom is an exaggeration.
Usage: Used for humor or surprise.
20. Stuffed like a turkey
Meaning: Very full from eating
Example Sentence:
• I was stuffed like a turkey after the big meal.
• He felt stuffed like a turkey on Thanksgiving.
Other ways to say: Really full, ate too much
Fun Fact/Origin: Turkey is stuffed before cooking—this is a funny food phrase.
Usage: Used after eating a big meal.
21. Round as a ball
Meaning: Very round body shape
Example Sentence:
• The puppy was as round as a ball.
• He looked round as a ball in that jacket.
Other ways to say: Plump, ball-shaped
Fun Fact/Origin: Balls are smooth and round—like some body shapes.
Usage: Common in friendly jokes.
22. Broad in the beam
Meaning: Having wide hips or bottom
Example Sentence:
• He’s a little broad in the beam these days.
• She joked that she’s growing broad in the beam.
Other ways to say: Wide hips, fuller figure
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ship language—the beam is the widest part.
Usage: A softer, older phrase.
23. Chubby cheeks
Meaning: Full, round cheeks
Example Sentence:
• That baby has the cutest chubby cheeks.
• She pinched his chubby cheeks playfully.
Other ways to say: Puffy cheeks, round cheeks
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used for babies and kids in a sweet way.
Usage: Common in family settings.
24. Built like a brick wall
Meaning: Big and strong
Example Sentence:
• That guy is built like a brick wall.
• She’s built like a brick wall—don’t mess with her.
Other ways to say: Solid, powerful
Fun Fact/Origin: Brick walls are solid and tough—like strong bodies.
Usage: Used for strong and heavy body types.
25. Thick around the middle
Meaning: Extra weight in the belly area
Example Sentence:
• He got thick around the middle after he stopped jogging.
• I’m trying to lose some of that thickness around the middle.
Other ways to say: Belly fat, round waist
Fun Fact/Origin: Common phrase when describing weight in the stomach area.
Usage: Used gently or jokingly.
26. Outgrow your clothes
Meaning: Become too big for your clothes
Example Sentence:
• He outgrew his jeans last month.
• I think I’ve outgrown my summer shirts.
Other ways to say: Clothes too small, body got bigger
Fun Fact/Origin: Can be used for both kids and adults.
Usage: Common when talking about needing new clothes.
27. Waistline expanding
Meaning: Gaining weight around the waist
Example Sentence:
• My waistline expanded during the holidays.
• Watch out—your waistline is expanding.
Other ways to say: Belly growing, getting bigger
Fun Fact/Origin: Waistlines are measured in inches—this tracks changes.
Usage: Used when talking about size changes.
28. As plump as a peach
Meaning: Soft, round, and full
Example Sentence:
• The baby’s cheeks were as plump as a peach.
• He looked as plump as a peach in that sweater.
Other ways to say: Round, soft-looking
Fun Fact/Origin: Peaches are juicy and soft—often used as a kind image.
Usage: Used in a gentle or kind way.
Quiz: Idioms About Obesity
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom below. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “eat like a horse” mean?
A) Eat quietly
B) Eat a small amount
C) Eat a lot
2. If someone is “built like a tank,” they are:
A) Very weak
B) Very strong and big
C) Very tall and skinny
3. What does it mean to “let yourself go”?
A) Start eating more vegetables
B) Stop caring about appearance or health
C) Go to the gym more often
4. When a person is “packing on the pounds,” what are they doing?
A) Losing weight
B) Wearing heavy clothes
C) Gaining weight
5. What does “couch potato” describe?
A) Someone who exercises often
B) Someone who sits around a lot
C) Someone who likes eating potatoes
6. If someone “tips the scales at 300 pounds,” it means:
A) They are really good at using a scale
B) They weigh a lot
C) They broke the scale
7. What does “stuffed like a turkey” mean?
A) Full from eating too much
B) Dressed up nicely
C) Feeling sleepy
8. If a person is “round as a ball,” they are:
A) Very active
B) Round and chubby
C) Tall and skinny
9. What does it mean to be “broad in the beam”?
A) Very short
B) Very skinny
C) Wide around the hips
10. If someone has “love handles,” what do they have?
A) Extra fat around the waist
B) Strong muscles
C) A new belt
Answer Key
- C) Eat a lot
- B) Very strong and big
- B) Stop caring about appearance or health
- C) Gaining weight
- B) Someone who sits around a lot
- B) They weigh a lot
- A) Full from eating too much
- B) Round and chubby
- C) Wide around the hips
- A) Extra fat around the waist
Wrapping Up
Idioms can be funny, helpful, or sometimes unkind. The ones about obesity often describe body size or eating in silly or serious ways. Knowing what these idioms mean helps us talk in a smarter and kinder way. We should be careful when we use them, especially if they could hurt someone’s feelings. Words matter, and kindness is always the best choice.
