Hunger is a universal experience, and expressing it creatively can add a touch of fun and vivid imagery to your language. Idiomatic expressions related to hunger often reflect how deeply ingrained the concept is in our daily lives.
Whether you’re famished after a long day or just a little peckish, there’s an idiom for every level of hunger. In this blog post, we’ll explore 35 engaging idiomatic expressions of hunger, their meanings, and examples of how to use them in conversation.
By the end, you’ll have a whole new set of phrases to describe your next craving!
1. Hungry as a Horse
Meaning: Extremely hungry.
Example Sentences:
- After the hike, I was hungry as a horse and couldn’t wait to eat dinner.
- She’s hungry as a horse every time she finishes her swim practice.
Explanation: This phrase compares someone’s hunger to that of a horse, an animal known for its large appetite. It’s a vivid way to express how ravenous you feel.
2. Starving to Death
Meaning: Feeling extremely hungry, to the point of exaggeration.
Example Sentences:
- I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and now I’m starving to death!
- The kids are starving to death after their soccer game.
Explanation: While not meant literally, this idiom emphasizes a desperate level of hunger. It’s often used in a light-hearted way to convey just how hungry someone is.
3. Eating Like a Bird
Meaning: Eating very little, usually due to a small appetite.
Example Sentences:
- She’s been eating like a bird since she started her new diet.
- Even though the buffet was delicious, he only ate like a bird.
Explanation: This expression is the opposite of many hunger-related idioms. It highlights a minimal appetite, likening it to the way a bird eats tiny amounts.
4. Ravenous Wolf
Meaning: Extremely hungry, ready to eat anything.
Example Sentences:
- He was like a ravenous wolf after the long meeting, devouring his lunch in seconds.
- The kids came home from school like ravenous wolves, heading straight for the snacks.
Explanation: Comparing someone to a ravenous wolf vividly conveys the intensity of their hunger, suggesting they might “devour” their food.
5. Peckish
Meaning: Slightly hungry.
Example Sentences:
- I’m feeling a bit peckish; maybe I’ll have a snack.
- We had lunch an hour ago, but I’m already feeling peckish.
Explanation: “Peckish” is a gentle way to describe a mild hunger. It’s often used when someone is looking for a light snack rather than a full meal.
6. Eating Someone Out of House and Home
Meaning: Eating a lot of food, often at someone else’s expense.
Example Sentences:
- My teenage son is eating me out of house and home!
- When the football team visits, they eat us out of house and home.
Explanation: This idiom suggests that someone is consuming so much food that it could lead to financial strain. It’s often used humorously to describe big eaters.
7. A Bottomless Pit
Meaning: Someone who never seems to get full, always hungry.
Example Sentences:
- He’s like a bottomless pit; no matter how much he eats, he’s never satisfied.
- Teenage boys can be bottomless pits when it comes to food.
Explanation: This phrase portrays someone with an insatiable appetite, as if their stomach has no end. It’s a playful way to describe constant hunger.
8. Faint from Hunger
Meaning: So hungry that one feels weak or dizzy.
Example Sentences:
- I was nearly faint from hunger by the time we got to the restaurant.
- She said she felt faint from hunger after skipping breakfast.
Explanation: This expression highlights the physical effects of intense hunger, such as feeling lightheaded or weak, emphasizing the need to eat soon.
9. Stomach Growling
Meaning: The sound your stomach makes when you’re hungry.
Example Sentences:
- My stomach was growling loudly during the meeting, so I grabbed a snack afterward.
- You could hear his stomach growling from across the room.
Explanation: This phrase is often used to describe an embarrassing or noticeable sign of hunger, especially in quiet situations.
10. On the Verge of Starvation
Meaning: Extremely hungry, almost desperate to eat.
Example Sentences:
- After working all day without a break, I felt on the verge of starvation.
- They were on the verge of starvation after being lost in the woods for hours.
Explanation: Though an exaggeration, this idiom powerfully conveys the speaker’s dire need for food, indicating a severe level of hunger.
IYKYK: Understanding the Popular Phrase
11. Eating Like a Pig
Meaning: Eating in a messy or gluttonous way.
Example Sentences:
- He was eating like a pig, with food all over his face.
- The kids ate like pigs at the picnic, getting food everywhere.
Explanation: This idiom is often used to describe someone eating in an uncontrolled or sloppy manner. It can be playful or mildly critical, depending on the context.
12. Hunger Pangs
Meaning: The physical sensations of hunger, like stomach cramps.
Example Sentences:
- I felt sharp hunger pangs after skipping lunch today.
- The hunger pangs were so strong that I had to grab something to eat.
Explanation: This phrase describes the discomfort or pain that comes with being hungry, emphasizing the urgency to eat.
13. Ready to Eat a Horse
Meaning: Extremely hungry, willing to eat anything.
Example Sentences:
- I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse right now!
- After the workout, he said he was ready to eat a horse.
Explanation: Similar to “hungry as a horse,” this phrase exaggerates hunger to an almost comical degree, suggesting a readiness to consume a large amount of food.
14. Devouring Food
Meaning: Eating quickly and with great appetite.
Example Sentences:
- She devoured her dinner after a long day at work.
- The children devoured the cookies as soon as they came out of the oven.
Explanation: “Devouring” implies eating something with intense hunger and speed, often leaving nothing behind. It’s a vivid way to show how hungry someone is.
15. Appetite of a Bear
Meaning: A very large appetite, like that of a bear.
Example Sentences:
- He has the appetite of a bear, especially after a day of hiking.
- She woke up with the appetite of a bear and ate a huge breakfast.
Explanation: Bears are known for eating large quantities of food, so this idiom is a fitting way to describe someone with a big appetite.
16. Eyes Bigger Than Your Stomach
Meaning: Wanting more food than you can actually eat.
Example Sentences:
- I ordered three dishes, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
- His eyes were bigger than his stomach, and he couldn’t finish the meal.
Explanation: This expression highlights the difference between one’s appetite and their actual capacity to eat, often leading to wasted food.
17. Craving Something
Meaning: A strong desire to eat a specific food.
Example Sentences:
- I’m craving something sweet after dinner.
- She was craving pizza all day and finally ordered one.
Explanation: Cravings are a common experience, and this idiom reflects a deep, often persistent desire for a particular food.
18. Eating Like There’s No Tomorrow
Meaning: Eating a lot, as if there won’t be another chance.
Example Sentences:
- He was eating like there’s no tomorrow at the buffet.
- She ate the dessert like there’s no tomorrow, savoring every bite.
Explanation: This phrase implies urgency and indulgence in eating, as if it’s a last chance to enjoy food.
19. Gnawing Hunger
Meaning: Persistent and strong hunger that’s hard to ignore.
Example Sentences:
- The gnawing hunger kept him from focusing on his work.
- She felt a gnawing hunger that wouldn’t go away until she ate something.
Explanation: “Gnawing” suggests a hunger that lingers and grows more intense over time, demanding attention.
20. Eating Like a King
Meaning: Eating a large, luxurious meal.
Example Sentences:
- We were eating like kings at the banquet.
- They decided to eat like kings on their anniversary and ordered the best dishes.
Explanation: This idiom paints a picture of indulgence and luxury, often involving rich and plentiful food.
21. Appetite of a Lion
Meaning: A very strong and hearty appetite.
Example Sentences:
- He had the appetite of a lion after his workout.
- With the appetite of a lion, she finished the entire meal.
Explanation: Lions are known for their powerful presence, and this idiom likens someone’s appetite to that strength and ferocity.
22. Hankering for Something
Meaning: A strong desire or craving for a specific food.
Example Sentences:
- I’m hankering for some chocolate right now.
- She had a hankering for sushi and couldn’t resist ordering it.
Explanation: “Hankering” is a less common but charming way to describe a craving, often with a nostalgic or particular focus on a certain food.
23. Appetite of a Growing Boy
Meaning: A very large appetite, often associated with teenagers.
Example Sentences:
- He ate with the appetite of a growing boy, finishing everything on his plate.
- Her son has the appetite of a growing boy, always looking for more food.
Explanation: This phrase acknowledges the famously large appetites of teenagers, who often seem to be hungry all the time due to growth spurts.
24. Scarfing Down Food
Meaning: Eating very quickly, often in a hurried or eager manner.
**Example Sentences:
- They were scarfing down food before the movie started.
- She scarfed down her lunch to get back to work on time.
Explanation: “Scarfing down” describes eating so quickly that it’s almost ungraceful, often due to time constraints or extreme hunger.
25. Famished
Meaning: Extremely hungry.
Example Sentences:
- After the long drive, I was famished and ready to eat.
- They were famished after the hike and couldn’t wait to have dinner.
Explanation: “Famished” is a dramatic way to express severe hunger, often implying that the person hasn’t eaten in a long time.
26. Wolfing Down Food
Meaning: Eating quickly and with great hunger.
Example Sentences:
- He was wolfing down his dinner after the game.
- The kids wolfed down their snacks during the break.
Explanation: “Wolfing down” is similar to “scarfing down,” emphasizing speed and eagerness in eating, often without savoring the food.
27. Appetite of a Teenager
Meaning: A very large and seemingly insatiable appetite, often associated with adolescence.
Example Sentences:
- He has the appetite of a teenager, always eating and never getting full.
- With the appetite of a teenager, she finished the entire pizza on her own.
Explanation: Teenagers are known for their large appetites, and this idiom reflects that never-ending hunger, often due to growth and high energy levels.
28. Hunger Like a Bear
Meaning: Intense hunger, comparable to a bear’s after hibernation.
Example Sentences:
- After fasting, he had a hunger like a bear, ready to eat everything in sight.
- She woke up with a hunger like a bear and went straight to the kitchen.
Explanation: Bears are known for their large appetites, especially after hibernation, so this phrase captures the intensity of someone’s hunger.
29. Stomach Rumbles
Meaning: The noise your stomach makes when you’re hungry.
Example Sentences:
- My stomach rumbles every time I skip breakfast.
- You could hear his stomach rumbles during the meeting.
Explanation: “Stomach rumbles” is a more literal expression, often used to describe the physical sounds of hunger.
30. Hungry as a Bear
Meaning: Extremely hungry.
Example Sentences:
- After the hike, he was hungry as a bear and couldn’t wait to eat.
- She was hungry as a bear after the long day at work.
Explanation: Like “hunger like a bear,” this phrase compares intense hunger to that of a bear, which is known for eating large quantities.
31. Eating Everything in Sight
Meaning: Eating everything available, usually due to extreme hunger.
Example Sentences:
- He was so hungry that he was eating everything in sight.
- The kids were eating everything in sight after school.
Explanation: This idiom humorously exaggerates someone’s hunger, suggesting they would eat anything placed before them.
32. Craving Like a Pregnant Woman
Meaning: Having strong, specific food cravings, similar to those experienced by some pregnant women.
Example Sentences:
- She had a craving like a pregnant woman, insisting on pickles and ice cream.
- He was craving like a pregnant woman, asking for the strangest food combinations.
Explanation: This phrase taps into the stereotype of unusual or intense cravings during pregnancy, making it a playful way to describe anyone with a specific or strong craving.
33. Appetite of a Small Army
Meaning: An enormous appetite, as if one could feed a whole army.
Example Sentences:
- He ate with the appetite of a small army, finishing every dish on the table.
- The team had the appetite of a small army after the game.
Explanation: This idiom exaggerates someone’s hunger by suggesting they could eat as much as multiple people, emphasizing just how large their appetite is.
34. Eating Like a Caveman
Meaning: Eating in a primal or very hungry manner, often with hands or quickly.
Example Sentences:
- He was eating like a caveman, tearing into the meat with his hands.
- The kids ate the barbecue like cavemen, sauce everywhere.
Explanation: This phrase evokes an image of primal, uninhibited eating, emphasizing hunger and a lack of manners or utensils.
35. Ravenous
Meaning: Extremely hungry.
Example Sentences:
- After the marathon, she was ravenous and ate an entire pizza.
- They were ravenous after the trip and couldn’t wait to eat.
Explanation: “Ravenous” is a powerful word that conveys intense hunger, often to the point of desperation.
Conclusion
These idiomatic expressions for hunger add color and creativity to everyday language, allowing you to express different levels of hunger in engaging ways.
Whether you’re just a little peckish or feel like you could eat a horse, there’s an idiom to capture that feeling.
Next time you’re hungry, try using one of these phrases to spice up your conversation!
Hi, I’m Isabel: I’m passionate about turning language learning into a fun adventure. I believe in making every word exciting and memorable.
