Who's hungry? : Food idioms

March 22, 2018 at 8:07 pm, No comments

Ever met anyone who's all gong and no dinner? This is a Northern English phrase meaning all talk and no action. It refers to the practice of banging a small gong to summon the family to dinner and reflects the disappointment felt when someone makes a promise of things to come but fails to deliver on that promise. If you liked that, then here are some more great food idioms to get your teeth into* (pun intended!)

*meaning something interesting but complex which makes you think.

Spill the beans!

¡Suéltalo!

Be a fish out of waterEstar más perdido que un pulpo en un garaje

Get egg on your faceQuedar en ridículo

Have bigger fish to fryTener cosas más importantes que hacer

Be as cool as a cucumberEstar fresco como una lechuga

Be in a pickleMeterse en un lío

Act like a wet lettucePortarse como imbécil

Bring home the bacon
Ganarse el pan

Be cheesySer cutre

Have a lot on your plateTener muchos asuntos pendientes

Put all your eggs in one basketPoner todos tus huevos en la misma cesta

Don't count your chickens (before they've hatched)!¡No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo!

It's no point crying over spilt milkLlover sobre mojado

It's not my cup of teaNo es santo de mi devoción

Take something with a pinch of saltCoger con pinzas

Be bread and butterSer de primera necesidad

Be nutsEstar loco

Be a tough nut to crackSer un hueso difícil de roer

Be as cheap as chipsSer una ganga

I bet that's whetted your appetite! Remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch, meaning there's no achievement without hard work. If you want to impress your English-speaking friends, you'll need to learn and practise using these idiomatic expressions.

Who's hungry? : Food idioms

Spill the beans!

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