Appetite, Food & Hunger, Relieving Oneself and 9 More Topics · English Idioms: Everyday Life

to be attracted to food that contains a lot of sugar

"I have a sweet tooth for chocolate."

"My brother has a sweet tooth and cannot resist eating chocolate cake and ice cream every single day."

the capacity or ability to consume an excessive amount of food or drink, particularly alcoholic ones

"He has a hollow leg."

"Despite eating three large plates of food, he still claimed to have a hollow leg and asked for dessert."

an abrupt and strong desire to eat something

"He got the munchies late at night."

"After smoking marijuana he got the munchies and ate an entire bag of potato chips."

used to say that one is overwhelemed by the sense of hunger and is willing to quench it the first chance one gets

"I am so hungry I could eat a horse."

"After hiking all day in the mountains, I was so hungry I could eat a horse."

to make someone tempted to do or try something

"Food makes mouth water."

"The prospect of a promotion made his mouth water for the new responsibilities."

used to describe a greedy person who takes more food than they could possibly finish

"My eyes are bigger than my stomach."

"His eyes are always bigger than his belly, so he orders too much food at restaurants."

to severely increase one's desire for food

"The smell of food whetted my appetite."

"The smell of fresh bread from the bakery whetted our appetite and we went inside to buy some pastries."

to not be able to move from a place or position

"The car got stuck in the mud."

"You should be careful not to get stuck in the mud after all that rain."

used to tell someone that they are eating or drinking too much of something

"I could murder this."

"After working late without any dinner, I could murder a big pizza right now."

no longer able to eat due to having a full stomach

"I am full as a tick now."

"After eating three plates of pasta at the restaurant, I was as full as a tick."

(of food) to be really tasty and require not much chewing

"The chocolate cake melted in my mouth."

"The chocolate cake was so delicious that it seemed to melt in my mouth with every single bite."

to feel excessive and uncontrollable hunger when seeing, smelling, or even thinking of a delicious food or drink

"It makes my mouth water."

"The aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from the bakery made everyone's mouth water."

to start with much enthusiasm

"Let's get stuck in."

"Upon arriving at the event, the enthusiastic volunteers were eager to get stuck in with their assigned tasks."

to cause significant damage or destruction to something by subjecting it to intense heat or fire

"The fire burned it crisp."

"I forgot the pizza in the oven and burned it to a crisp so we had to order takeout."

to eat an excessive amount of food

"He eats like a horse."

"My teenage son eats like a pig and finishes everything on the table."

to eat so much of food available in someone's house so that there is little or none left

"They ate us out."

"The teenagers ate my brother out of house and home during their week-long visit, leaving almost no food in the fridge."

to eat more food than one's body needs or can handle

"Stop feeding your face and listen to me."

"He spent the entire evening at the buffet, just feeding his face with every dessert available."

to eat to excess

"He made a pig of himself."

"At the buffet, he made a pig of himself by eating five plates of food."

to start eating a meal

"It is noon, time to put the feedbag on."

"It is time to put the feedbag on because dinner is ready and I am very hungry."

to eat or drink to the point where one cannot keep eating or drinking anymore

"We ate to our fill."

"The guests were invited to eat to their fill at the wedding reception."

to have a very little desire to eat

"My sister eats like a bird always."

"Even though she is very thin, my grandmother insists that she eats like a bird and never finishes a full meal at dinner."

(of odors or smells) to travel through the air and being detected by someone's sense of smell

"A bad smell reached my nostrils."

"The terrible smell of rotten eggs reached his nostrils as soon as he opened the refrigerator door."

to quickly make a meal for oneself, often due to a time constraint

"Let's grab a bite to eat."

"Let us grab a bite to eat before the movie starts because I am really hungry."

the ability to eat a wide variety of foods without experiencing digestive problems

"The competitive eater has a cast-iron stomach."

"The competitive eater has a cast iron stomach and can consume massive amounts of food without getting sick."

a meal that is complete and satisfying

"She has not had a square meal in days."

"The square meal was a properly balanced nutritious meal with all food groups."

to develop a liking or preference for something after experiencing or trying it, often suggesting an increased desire or enjoyment for that particular thing

"I got a taste for spicy food."

"After trying sushi once, she quickly got a taste for Japanese cuisine."

used to refer to a cup of coffee

"I need a cup of joe to wake up."

"I need a strong cup of joe every morning before I can even think about starting my work."

to be compatible with someone or something's stomach

"Spicy food doesn't sit well with me."

"The heavy meal didn't sit well with her stomach, so she felt uncomfortable for the rest of the evening."

(of food) to be burned completely, due to being cooked too much or for too long

"The toast burned to a crisp."

"He forgot about the cookies in the oven, and they were burned to a crisp."

to develop a liking for a particular type of cuisine or dish after trying it

"I got a taste for sushi."

"After traveling through Southeast Asia, she developed a taste for exotic and spicy cuisines."

to be compatible with someone or something's stomach

"This food sits well."

"The bland, easily digestible meal is designed to sit well with patients recovering from illness."

to discharge urine from one's body

"I need to spend a penny before we leave."

"We stopped at the service station so that everyone could spend a penny before we continued our long journey."

to release gas from one's bowels through one's anus

"Someone broke wind loudly."

"The old man accidentally broke wind loudly in the elevator and everyone pretended not to notice."

to go to a bathroom in order to satisfy one's natural urge by urinating or defecating

"He went behind the bushes to answer the call of nature."

"The hiker went behind a bush to answer the call of nature because there were no toilets anywhere nearby."

to emit wind from one's anus

"Someone cut cheese."

"The awkward silence was broken when someone accidentally cut the cheese during the quiet dinner."

to get rid of waste liquid from one's body

"The driver stopped to take a leak."

"He stopped the car by the side of the road to take a leak because they had been driving for hours."

to resist the urge to pass urine

"I cannot hold my water any longer."

"The little boy was dancing around because he could not hold his water any longer and needed to find a toilet."

a short stop in the middle of a trip to refuel, eat some food, use a restroom, or just get some rest

"We need a pit stop."

"After driving for six hours straight, we decided to make a pit stop at a roadside diner."

to lie on a sofa, bed, etc. in order to become less tense or anxious

"I kicked my feet up and watched TV."

"After a long week at work he finally had time to kick his feet up and watch a movie on the sofa."

to take moment to relax and appreciate what life has to offer, particularly when one is feeling overwhelmed

"Take time to stop and smell the roses."

"You need to slow down and take time to smell the roses instead of working all the time without a break."

the renewal of one's energy or endurance that allows one to continue or start over a physical exertion

"The runner found his second wind."

"After drinking some water the runner got a second wind and finished the race strongly."

to put an stop to any activity one was doing in order to take a short break and relax a bit

"I stopped running to catch my breath."

"After running up the stairs she stopped for a moment to catch her breath before entering the meeting room."

to give one's best effort in work or activities, followed by taking time to rest

"Let us max and relax today."

"After finals were over the students decided to max and relax by the pool all weekend long."

to relax and take a rest in order to recover one's lost energy

"I took a nap to recharge my batteries."

"I am going to the countryside for the weekend to recharge my batteries after a very stressful month."

to go for a walk, particularly after spending a long time sitting in one spot

"We stopped to stretch legs."

"After sitting for hours, we decided to stop the car and stretch our legs."

to stop caring for one's physical appearance, hygiene, or mental well-being

"He has let himself go."

"After she had the baby she let herself go and stopped caring about her appearance for a while."

to behave in a comfortable manner, without worrying about one's problems or other people's opinions

"Let your hair down now."

"After a stressful week at work, she was finally able to let her hair down and relax."

to refresh oneself, usually by going outside or doing some physical activities

"A morning walk blows away the cobwebs."

"A brisk walk in the fresh morning air is a great way to blow away the cobwebs and wake up properly."

fully drained of strength and energy

"I am fit to drop now."

"After running the marathon, I was fit to drop and could barely walk to my car."

to feel relief or relaxation because a period of worry, stress, or anticipation has passed

"She breathed a sigh of relief when the test was over."

"When the exam finished everyone breathed a sigh of relief and went home to relax."

to put an stop to any activity one was doing in order to take a short break and relax a bit

"Let me catch my breath."

"After sprinting the last mile, he needed to catch his breath before discussing the urgent matter."

to behave in a way one desires without worrying about other's opinions

"She will let herself go."

"During her vacation, she decided to let herself go and enjoy every moment without reservation."

to rest one's mind and body, with one's eyes closed

"I am tired, time to hit the sack."

"I am really tired so I think I will hit the sack early tonight for once in my life."

to get no sleep

"I did not sleep a wink."

"The baby's crying all night meant that she did not sleep a wink."

to manage to get a full sleep without anyone or anything interrupting

"I slept like a baby."

"After the long journey, I slept like a log and didn't wake up until noon the next day."

to constlantly turn over to the sides due to having difficulty sleeping

"I tossed and turned all night worrying."

"She tossed and turned all night worrying about her job interview which was scheduled for the next morning."

to manage to get some sleep

"I need to catch some Z's."

"I need to catch some Z's before my night shift so please wake me up at ten o'clock."

a short, light nap or brief sleep taken to rest and regain energy

"He catches forty winks on the sofa after lunch."

"He caught forty winks on the sofa before getting ready for his night shift."

to start going to sleep

"He went home to pound his ear."

"After working the night shift he went home to pound his ear for a few hours before his next shift started."

to get in bed for sleeping

"I am tired, so I will hit the hay."

"I am really tired so I think I will hit the hay early tonight for once."

someone who has a tendency to get up early every morning

"The early bird catches the worm."

"The early bird got the best parking spot because she arrived before everyone else."

used to tell someone it is time to get up and get out of bed

"Rise and shine — breakfast is ready!"

"The coach knocked on every door at six in the morning shouting rise and shine — training starts now."

a person who has a tendency to sleep very late at night

"The night owl does his best work after midnight."

"The night owl did her best work after midnight when the house was completely silent."

(of a person) in a state of deep unconsciousness or sleep, typically due to extreme fatigue

"He was so tired he was out like a light."

"As soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light and did not move until the alarm rang."

to sleep very deeply

"I slept like a log."

"After hiking all day, I slept like a log and didn't wake up until morning."

sleeping so soundly that one cannot be easily awakened

"He is down for the count."

"After the exhausting marathon, the runner was completely down for the count and slept for twelve hours."

used to refer to someone who is completely awake and conscious

"He is in the land of the living."

"After a long illness, it was a relief to see him finally in the land of the living and alert."

to make a lot of noise due to loudly cheering, shouting, celebrating, playing music, etc.

"They raised the roof loudly."

"The fans raised the roof when their team scored the winning goal in the final minute."

used to refer to the action of visiting multiple restaurants, bars, etc. in an attempt to have a good time

"We went out on the town."

"On her birthday, she went out on the town with friends, visiting several bars and restaurants downtown."

to spend much money for parties and celebrations

"They really pushed the boat out for their anniversary."

"The company pushed the boat out for the Christmas party by hiring a famous band and serving champagne to everyone."

to have a lot of fun and really enjoy oneself

"I had the time of my life."

"During their vacation in Hawaii, the family had the time of their lives exploring the island."

to experience an enjoyable time, particularly by spending time at parties

"Let's kick up heels."

"After a long and stressful week at work, they decided to go out and kick up their heels at a lively club."

to enjoy or use something as much or as often as one can

"Make the most of it."

"Since you only have one week of vacation, you should make the most of every single moment."

just for the sake of having a good time

"We did it for kicks."

"He tried bungee jumping just for kicks, not because he was really interested in extreme sports."

for no particular reason except for having fun

"I bought a lottery ticket for the hell of it."

"They decided to drive to the beach at midnight for the hell of it because they had nothing better to do."

to be entertained, delighted, or excited by someone or something

"Kids get a kick out of clowns."

"My grandmother still gets a real kick out of watching old black-and-white movies from the 1950s on television."

used to say that one should cherish every moment of something enjoyable as they might never get another chance

"Enjoy it while it lasts."

"You should enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts because rain is forecasted for the entire next week."

to throw one's money to a stripper in order to attract her attention or to show one's wealth or support

"Make it rain money."

"The famous rapper came to the club and started making it rain by throwing stacks of money into the crowd."

(in the game of basketball) to take some shots without taking part in an actual game

"Let's shoot some hoops."

"Before the official game started, the players decided to shoot some hoops to warm up their shooting arms."

(of a movie or video) completed and ready to be released

"The movie is in the can and ready for release."

"The movie is finally in the can after six months of filming and will be released in cinemas next summer."

used to inform an audience that the famous person, often a performer like Elvis Presley, has finished their show and left the premises

"The speaker finished and left — Elvis has left the building."

"The CEO gave his farewell speech, walked out the door, and someone at the back quietly said Elvis has left the building."

to laugh or scream in great length or with extreme intensity

"I laughed my head off at his jokes."

"The comedy show was so funny that the entire audience laughed their heads off from beginning to end."

to laugh so hard to the point that one's eyes become full of tears

"The baby laughed until he cried."

"The children laughed until they cried when the clown slipped on a banana peel and fell into a bucket of water."

to laugh really loudly and in length

"She laughed like a drain."

"He laughed like a drain throughout the entire comedy show and couldn't stop even after it ended."

to try one's best to do or achieve something

"I busted a gut trying to finish on time."

"I really had to bust a gut to finish the project before the strict deadline arrived."

(of laughter) in a very intense and uncontrollable manner

"The comedian had us in stitches."

"The comedian had us in stitches and we laughed so hard that our stomachs hurt."

a loud and uncontrollable laughter

"The joke produced a loud belly laugh."

"The joke produced a loud belly laugh and everyone in the room joined in the laughter."

to smile very widely

"He grinned like a Cheshire cat."

"She grinned like a Cheshire cat when she found out she had been accepted into her dream university."

(of a person) to look extremely happy and satisfied

"He smiled from ear to ear."

"When she saw her new puppy the little girl grinned from ear to ear with pure joy and happiness."

a very charismatic smile that someone, particularly a woman, has

"She has a million-dollar smile."

"Her million-dollar smile instantly charmed everyone in the room, making her the star of the party."

to laugh really hard, particularly to the point that one's stomach hurts

"We will bust a gut."

"The comedian's hilarious jokes had the audience bust a gut with laughter throughout the entire performance."

to be in contact with someone, particularly by seeing or writing to them regularly

"Let's stay in touch after graduation."

"We promised to stay in touch after university by calling each other regularly and sending emails."

to manage to meet someone in person or contact them on a telephone, through message, etc.

"I am trying to get hold of my doctor."

"I have been trying to get hold of my doctor all morning but his phone line is always busy."

to contact a person with a brief message, phone call, or letter

"Drop me a line soon."

"When you arrive in Paris, drop me a line so I know you got there safely."

said in a radio communication to indicate that the conversation is over

"Over and out. Talk later."

"The pilot confirmed the landing instructions and signed off with a clear, "Over and out.""

to unexpectedly encounter or meet someone or something, often with significant consequences

"I crossed her path at school."

"When I was walking through the park yesterday, I unexpectedly crossed the path of my old childhood friend."

to provide someone with the contact information of another person such as their phone number, E-mail, or address

"My doctor put me in touch with a specialist."

"Can you put me in touch with your lawyer because I need some legal advice about a contract."

to have not seen or heard about a person or thing for a considerable amount of time

"I haven't seen hide nor hair."

"After the move, we couldn't find hide nor hair of our favorite antique lamp for weeks."

to be no longer in contact with a friend or acquaintance

"We lost touch after college."

"After she moved to another country we lost touch and I have not heard from her for years."

to not form a friendly relationship with a person or avoid getting involved with something

"He keeps everyone at arm's length."

"After her last relationship ended badly, she decided to keep all new people at arm's length for a while."

to fail to recognize someone as one has never met them or knows nothing about them

"I don't know him."

"I didn't recognize her from Adam because she looked completely different now."

to make contact with someone in order to exchange information or to consult with them

"Let's touch base soon."

"I'll touch base with you later this week to discuss the new proposal and gather your input."

a situation where two people or groups cross paths briefly and then continue on their separate ways without any meaningful interaction or connection

"We were like ships that pass in the night."

"We met briefly at the conference but we were like ships that pass in the night and never saw each other again."

used for saying that someone is waiting or talking on a telephone

"She is on the line."

"Please hold for a moment, as the customer you are trying to reach is currently on the line."

waiting on the phone until the receiver speaks

"I am on hold."

"The customer service representative informed me that my call was on hold and would be answered shortly."

to be no longer in contact with a friend or acquaintance

"I lost touch with my friend."

"After moving abroad, they unfortunately began to lose touch with their old friends."

not having been in contact with someone and unaware of their current situation

"He is out of touch."

"Having lived abroad for twenty years, he was completely out of touch with the political climate back home."

to slap one's palm against the palm of another person as a way of greeting or congratulating them

"Give me some skin, brother."

"After winning the game the players high fived each other to give some skin and celebrate."

to have the opportunity to spend time with a famous person, whether professionally or socially

"At the gala, I rubbed shoulders with famous actors."

"At the film festival she got to rub shoulders with some of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood."

to enjoy a friendly talk with a person for a long period of time

"We sat around chewing the fat for hours."

"My grandfather and his best friend like to sit on the porch and chew the fat for hours."

to keep talking with a person about no particular subject

"We shot the breeze all day."

"My grandfather and his friend like to sit on the porch and shoot the breeze for hours."

to make two or more strangers get comfortable with each other and engage in a conversation

"He told a joke to break the ice."

"He told a funny joke to break the ice at the beginning of the awkward business meeting."

used for greeting a person whom one has not seen for a significant period of time

"Hello stranger! You're back!"

"Seeing my old college roommate after ten years, I exclaimed, "Hello stranger! It's wonderful to see you again!""

brief and polite conversation about random subjects, often in a social setting

"They made small talk."

"During the awkward silence at the party, he initiated some light small talk about the weather."

used as a question when one wants to know what another person has in mind at the moment

"A penny for your thoughts, you look serious."

"You look very deep in thought so a penny for your thoughts what is going on in your mind right now."

said when one is in the middle of a conversation about a particular person and that person suddenly shows up

"Talk of the devil, here she comes!"

"We were just talking about you, and you walked in — speak of the devil, we need your help right now!"

used to ask a departing person to keep visiting or communicating with one

"Don't be a stranger."

"As they said goodbye at the airport, she told him, "Please don't be a stranger; call me anytime.""

(particularly of a guest) to stay in someone's house longer than is considered appropriate, often to the point where one is not welcomed anymore

"Don't outstay your welcome."

"He realized he had been talking for too long and decided to leave before he started to outstay his welcome."

to compeletly end one's relationship with someone

"Wash hands of him."

"After countless attempts to help him, she finally decided to wash her hands of his destructive behavior."

to choose not to communicate or interact with other people

"He is shy and keeps to himself."

"My elderly neighbour is very shy and prefers to keep to herself most days."

someone or something that when seen makes one very pleased

"The pizza was great."

"After a grueling hike in the desert, the cool, clear water of the oasis was a sight for sore eyes."

to briefly live in one or several places, without ever unpacking one's luggage, often due to not having a permanent place to live or stay in

"Live out of suitcase."

"The traveling salesman was constantly on the road, forced to live out of a suitcase for months at a time."

a strong urge to travel or leave somewhere

"She has itchy feet this summer."

"After two years in the same city he gets itchy feet and decides to move to another country."

the instinctive desire to return to a more primitive, untamed way of life, often associated with the wilderness or natural world

"He felt the call of the wild and went camping."

"The adventurer could not resist the call of the wild and decided to explore the uncharted jungle alone."

to leave a location, usually to embark on a journey or trip

"We should hit the road before it gets dark."

"We should hit the road early tomorrow morning to avoid the heavy traffic on the highway."

to examine the chances of something's success before trying it

"Test the waters first."

"Before launching the new product, the company decided to test the waters with a small focus group."

in an active state of travel by car, bus, or other form of transportation

"We are on the road."

"The band is on the road for their international tour, performing in a different city each night."

(of food or drink) to be consumed by someone

"Not a single drop of alcohol passed his lips."

"Not a single drop of alcohol has passed his lips since he decided to stop drinking five years ago."

to be fully concentrated on the book one is reading, particularly with a lot of interest or enthusiasm

"Nose in a book."

"You'll always find him in the library, with his nose in a book, completely absorbed in the story."

used to refer to a situation in which everything is progressing in a way it should without anything unusual or unexpected happening

"It's business as usual."

"Despite the minor disruption, the office staff returned to their desks, making it business as usual."

used to refer to the act of doing something without thinking about it because one has been doing it for a long time and it has become a habit

"By force of habit."

"He automatically reached for his keys by force of habit, even though he wasn't going anywhere."

used to refer to a person who is engaging in the same dishonest behavior as they previously demonstrated

"Up to old tricks."

"The mischievous cat was caught trying to steal food again, clearly up to its old tricks."

used to refer to someone who always does the same things in the exact same way they did before

"Creature of habit."

"As a creature of habit, she woke up at the same time every morning and followed her strict routine."

a person who spends a lot of time working out or exercising at the gym

"He is a gym rat who works out daily."

"He is a gym rat who works out daily and can bench press over three hundred pounds."

used when describing one's mundane life, in which nothing new or exciting happens

"Another day, another dollar."

"He sighed, looking at his paperwork, and muttered, "Another day, another dollar," resigned to the routine."

a hasty attempt at cleaning or tidying something that does not effectively solve the problem

"Just a cat's lick."

"She gave the dusty table a quick cat's lick with a damp cloth, but it still looked messy."

(of food or drink) to be consumed by someone

"Pass your chips."

"Please pass your chips around so everyone at the table can enjoy them."

(of a particular word or topic) to be said by someone

"Pass your name."

"He hesitated before deciding to pass his name to the authorities regarding the incident."

to go out and drink alcohol, dance, or do whatever one pleases

"We went out to paint the town red on Saturday night."

"To celebrate their anniversary they decided to paint the town red and go to every club in the city."

to celebrate the end of the year and prepare for a new year

"Ring out the old."

"Fireworks lit up the sky as the city gathered to ring out the old year and welcome the new."

to play the piano, typically in a skillful or enjoyable manner

"Tickle the ivories."

"The talented musician sat down at the grand piano and began to tickle the ivories with a beautiful melody."

(of music, shows, etc.) begin broadcasting, typically through radio or television

"Hit the airwaves."

"The highly anticipated new album is scheduled to hit the airwaves next Monday morning."

said by children during Halloween to request candy or other treats from the homeowner

"Trick or treat!"

"Every Halloween the neighbourhood kids go door to door shouting trick or treat."

to celebrate the birth of a baby, particularly by having an alcoholic drink

"Wet the baby's head."

"The proud new parents decided to go out with friends to wet the baby's head."

to step up to deliver a convincing speech

"The senator took the floor to speak."

"The senator took the floor and gave a passionate speech about climate change."

an event in which people, often women, can swap items of clothing or accessories with their friends or acquaintances

"Swishing party."

"My friends are organizing a swishing party next Saturday so we can exchange unwanted clothes."

to have a really good time or enjoy oneself tremendously in a specific activity or event

"Have a blast."

"The children had a blast at the water park and did not want to leave when it was time to go home."

to dance, particularly in a nice way

"Let's bust a move!"

"As soon as the DJ dropped the beat, everyone on the dance floor started to bust a move."

to dance energetically or enthusiastically

"Tear up the dance floor."

"At the wedding reception, the groom's uncle really tore up the dance floor with his moves."

to enjoy oneself to a great extent

"We had a ball!"

"The children absolutely had a ball playing in the park all afternoon."

an extremely enjoyable or thrilling time

"We had a whale time."

"We had a whale of a time at the amusement park riding all the roller coasters and eating cotton candy."

to celebrate the end of the year and prepare for a new year

"Ring out the old year."

"As the clock struck midnight, we joined together to ring out the old year and welcome the new one."

to go out onto a dance floor and start dancing

"Let's take the floor."

"As the music started playing, she eagerly took the floor to showcase her impressive dance moves."

to dance, particularly in a nice way

"Let's bust a move!"

"When the infectious beat dropped, everyone in the club started to bust a move with incredible energy."