Food idioms are fun and creative expressions that use the names of foods to describe different feelings, situations, or behaviors. They don’t always talk about real food but carry special meanings that make English more colorful and interesting. Learning food idioms helps students understand how native speakers use language in everyday conversations. In this article, you will learn some popular food idioms in English with their meanings and pictures. These examples will help you learn new words, improve your expressions, and make your English sound more natural and lively.
Explore Food Idioms in English with Meanings
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Apple of one’s eye | Someone very precious |
| Bite off more than one can chew | Take on more than one can handle |
| Bread and butter | One’s main source of income |
| Cry over spilled milk | Worry about something that cannot be changed |
| Full of beans | Energetic and lively |
| Egg on someone | Encourage someone to do something |
| In a pickle | In trouble or difficulty |
| Cool as a cucumber | Calm and relaxed |
| Sour grapes | Pretending not to care about something you want |
| Butter someone up | To flatter someone |
| Spill the beans | Reveal a secret |
| Hard nut to crack | A difficult problem or person |
| Take something with a grain of salt | Don’t take something too seriously |
| Hot potato | A controversial or difficult issue |
| Bring home the bacon | To earn a living |
| Piece of cake | Something very easy |
| The icing on the cake | An additional benefit |
| Go bananas | To become crazy or excited |
| Chew the fat | To chat casually |
| Have bigger fish to fry | To have more important things to do |
Explore Food Idioms in English with Meanings
Powerful Food Idiom with their Meanings
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cry wolf | To raise a false alarm |
| Fish out of water | To feel uncomfortable in a situation |
| Breadwinner | The main earner in a family |
| Salt of the earth | A good and honest person |
| Bring to the table | To contribute something useful |
| Take the cake | To be the best or worst of something |
| Out to lunch | Not paying attention |
| Eat one’s words | To admit a mistake |
| Cool as a cucumber | Calm under pressure |
| Sell like hotcakes | To sell quickly |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth | Too many people involved can ruin something |
| Bite the bullet | To face a difficult situation bravely |
| Put all one’s eggs in one basket | To risk everything in one venture |
| Have a lot on one’s plate | To have many things to deal with |
| Half-baked | Poorly planned or thought out |
| Cherry-pick | To select the best items |
| Bread and circuses | Things given to keep people happy |
| Not my cup of tea | Not something one likes |
| Eat humble pie | Admit one’s mistake humbly |
| Bring home the bacon | To earn money for the family |
Powerful Food Idiom with their Meanings
Essential Food Idioms in English with Pictures
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Apple of discord | Cause of argument |
| Big cheese | An important person |
| Cry over milk | Worry unnecessarily |
| Egghead | Very smart person |
| Full plate | Very busy |
| Half a loaf | Getting only part of what was wanted |
| Low-hanging fruit | The easiest task |
| Nuts about | Very enthusiastic |
| Out to pasture | Retired or old-fashioned |
| Salt away | Save for later |
| Spice things up | Make something more interesting |
| Take with a grain of salt | Don’t take something seriously |
| Sweet tooth | Love for sweets |
| The proof is in the pudding | Results matter more than words |
| Walk on eggshells | Be careful about what you say |
| Bite the hand that feeds you | Harm someone who helps you |
| Eat like a bird | Eat very little |
| Eat like a horse | Eat a lot |
| In a stew | Worried or confused |
| Bring something to the table | Offer ideas or resources |
Essential Food Idioms in English with Pictures
Popular Food Idiom with their Meanings
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cry over spilt milk | Waste energy worrying |
| Full of beans | Energetic and lively |
| Big cheese | Important person |
| Bread and butter | Main income source |
| Egg on | Encourage someone |
| Hot potato | Controversial subject |
| Take with a grain of salt | Don’t fully believe something |
| Butter someone up | Flatter someone |
| Sour grapes | Pretending not to want something |
| Bite off more than you can chew | Take on too much |
| Bring home the bacon | Earn a living |
| Piece of cake | Very easy task |
| The icing on the cake | Extra benefit |
| Eat humble pie | Admit a mistake |
| Spice things up | Add interest or excitement |
| Sweeten the deal | Make an offer more attractive |
| Cry wolf | Raise a false alarm |
| Put all eggs in one basket | Risk everything |
| Take the cake | Be the best or worst |
| Half-baked | Poorly thought out |
Popular Food Idiom with their Meanings
Simple Food Idioms in English with Meanings
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Out of the frying pan into the fire | Going from bad to worse |
| Eat crow | Admit being wrong |
| Bread and circuses | Distraction from important issues |
| Fish or cut bait | Make a decision |
| Bite your tongue | Avoid speaking |
| Cry over milk | Waste energy worrying |
| Half-baked | Poorly thought out |
| Sweet tooth | Love for sweets |
| Bring home the bacon | Earn a living |
| In a jam | In trouble |
| Go pear-shaped | Go wrong |
| Hot off the press | Fresh news |
| Take the biscuit | Be the most remarkable thing |
| Salt of the earth | A good person |
| Breadwinner | Main earner |
| Spill the beans | Reveal a secret |
| Eat like a horse | Eat a lot |
| In a stew | Worried or confused |
| Turn up the heat | Make a situation intense |
| Have your cake and eat it too | Want to have everything |
Simple Food Idioms in English with Meanings
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