Food idioms

17 food idioms with what each one means. Tap one for its origin, examples and a quick check.

• A piece of cake

  Something that is a piece of cake is very easy to do.

• Back burner

  If something is on the back burner, it has been put aside for now because other things are more important.

• Best thing since sliced bread

  If something is the best thing since sliced bread, it is an excellent new idea, invention or person that people are very excited about.

• Bigger fish to fry

  If you have bigger fish to fry, you have more important things to deal with, so a smaller matter is not worth your time.

• Cool as a cucumber

  Someone who is cool as a cucumber stays calm and relaxed, especially in a stressful or difficult situation.

• Cry over spilled milk

  To cry over spilled milk is to be upset about something bad that has already happened and cannot be changed.

• Cut the mustard

  If someone or something cuts the mustard, they are good enough to meet the standard or do what is needed.

• Full of beans

  If someone is full of beans, they are lively, cheerful and full of energy.

• In a pickle

  If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult or awkward situation and are not sure how to get out of it.

• Not my cup of tea

  If something is not your cup of tea, it is not the kind of thing you like or enjoy.

• On the house

  If something is on the house, the business gives it to you for free.

• Pie in the sky

  Pie in the sky is an idea, plan or promise that sounds wonderful but is very unlikely to ever happen.

• Sour grapes

  Sour grapes means acting as if you never wanted something, or criticizing it, because you failed to get it.

• Take it with a grain of salt

  To take something with a grain of salt means to doubt it a little, because it may not be completely true.

• Take the cake

  If something takes the cake, it is the most extreme example of its kind, usually the most annoying, foolish or surprising.

• Tough cookie

  A tough cookie is a strong, determined person who handles hard situations without giving up.

• You can't have your cake and eat it too

  You can't have your cake and eat it too means you cannot enjoy two good things when choosing one rules out the other.

More idioms by topic

• Animal idioms
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• Idioms about feelings
• Love and friendship idioms
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• Idioms about people
• Talking idioms
• Honesty and secrets idioms
• Success idioms
• Failure idioms
• Trouble idioms
• Luck idioms
• Health idioms
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• Travel and speed idioms
• Color idioms
• Number idioms
• Conflict idioms
• Idioms from Shakespeare