16 Food Idioms with Examples and Explanations [Infographic]

Son: Mum, one of the kids in school called me an egghead today.
Mum: Why did they call you that?

Son: I think it’s because the other kids think I am really smart. They said that I’m always reading books and that I always have the right answer to the teacher’s questions.

Mum: Well, you are very intelligent. Next time somebody calls you an egghead just reply back to them saying, “I know” and walk away with your head held high.

Mary: I had a terrible day at work today.
Alice: Why?

Mary: Ever since Tom got his promotion he thinks he is the big cheese of the company. All he does is order us around all day.

Alice: Can you talk to him about it?
Mary: I don’t think so, he is too influential now. He could fire me if I do something he doesn’t like.

Jenny: Where is Andrew? He said he would join us for lunch today.

Mary: I went to pick him up earlier and he was in his pyjamas watching Star Wars. I found him in the same spot yesterday when I went to hang out with him. I don’t think he has moved from that couch all weekend.

Jenny: He is so lazy, it is unbelievable! He’s a couch potato, he needs to go outside and enjoy life.
Mary: You’re right, he’s spending too much time on that couch watching television.

Mother 1: How is Sarah?

Mother 2: Sarah is great but she is very busy. She is a full-time student and working 30 hours a week to pay off her student loans. I don’t know how she has time for it all.

Mother 1: Wow! She really is a tough cookie! She has a plan and she’s working as hard as she can to reach her goal.

Mother 2: Yes, she is. We are very proud of her.

John: Our team is in disarray.
Jeremy: What do you mean?

John: We have no order, no aims and no direction. We need a leader, a top banana that can motivate the team and drive us to the finish line.

Jeremy: You’re right. I think you should be the leader. You’re organised, ambitious, a team player and intelligent. I know the rest of the team will agree. What do you think?

John: I would be honoured to be the top banana of this team!

George: Where is Kevin nowadays?
Paul: He’s doing time in prison. He was arrested last year.

George: I’m not surprised.
Paul: Why?

George: He was always the bad apple of the family. They were never able to discipline him whereas his sister was always so good.

Paul: You’re right. I remember in school he was always getting in trouble for fighting and poor attendance but his sister was so friendly and well mannered. She was completely different to Kevin. He really is the bad apple of that family, his poor parents.

Anna: Did you hear that Kim lost her job?
Melissa: Really? I saw her yesterday and she didn’t say anything.

Anna: She’s pretending that doesn’t care that she was fired but it’s just a bunch of sour grapes.

Melissa: She loved that job of course she cares.
Anna: I know but she wants everyone to think she is happy and didn’t like her job anyway.

Corinne: I can’t believe it! The sound on my new television isn’t working.
Eli:  How did you break your new television already? You have only had it for three days.

Corinne: I think it was sold to me like this, I couldn’t have broken it already.
Eli: If they sold you a faulty television set, you can get your money back.

Corinne: How can I get my money back?
Eli: In accordance to the lemon law you must be given a complete refund if you were sold a faulty product.

Corinne: That’s brilliant, I’ll contact my lawyer now.

Zoe: I went to the doctor today.
Mia: Why did you go to the doctor?

Zoe: I thought I had a virus as I haven’t been feeling very well. But the doctor said it wasn’t a virus.
Mia: So what is wrong with you?

Zoe: I’m pregnant!
Mia: Congratulations! You’ve got a bun in the oven! That’s fantastic news!

Lucas: I want to quit my job, but I can’t.
Noah: Why can’t you quit your job?

Lucas: I need that job to support my family, they are relying on my income.
Noah: You bring home the bacon, that must be a lot of pressure.

Lucas: It is. I would love to quit my job right now, but I know I should find a new job first.

Jack: How was the new movie?
Luke: It was OK, I thought it could have been better though.

Jack: What do you mean?
Luke: I just thought it was really predictable and cheesy. I knew what the characters were going to say before they said it and it just seemed very forced and fake.

Jack: That is disappointing.
Luke: It is, the movie was full of cliches and the storyline was so obvious and has been done before so many times.

Jack: I won’t be going to watch that movie then.
Luke: I wouldn’t recommend it.

Maggie: How is Kevin?
Peter: Kevin is great, he is about to start college and is excited to live on campus.

Maggie: I didn’t know he was moving away, is he nervous about living alone?
Peter: Not at all! He is full of beans, he can’t wait to have his own apartment and do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. His parents are very strict so he is looking forward to the freedom.

Maggie: I hope it all works out for him! – I’m sure it will, he’s a very bright, young man.

Mary: Would you mind helping me pack and move my stuff to the new apartment?
John: Of course not!

Mary: Are you sure? I have a lot of big furniture and delicate crockery.
John: I’m positive, it will be a piece of cake if the two of us do it together. We’ll have everything packed and moved by the end of the week.

Mary: Thank you so much, you are a lifesaver!
John: Don’t mention it, I’m happy to help!

Ella: This brown bread is amazing!
Evelyn: Thank you, I made it.

Ella: Really? I’m very impressed, I would love to try bake it at home. Can I have the recipe?
Evelyn: I’m sorry but it’s a family recipe, I’m not allowed to tell anyone outside of the family, the secret recipe.

Ella: You wouldn’t spill the beans to your closest friend, would you? I promise I’ll keep the recipe a secret.
Evelyn: I wish I could but I can’t, it’s a secret that’s been in the family for generations.
Ella: OK, I understand.

Natalie: Have you talked to Bruna recently?
Vivian: No, I haven’t, have you?

Natalie: Yeah, I was talking to her yesterday. She told me that she is going to book a one way ticket to Thailand and travel around Asia for six months.
Vivian: Wow, that sounds amazing!

Natalie: I don’t believe her though, I always take what she says with a pinch of salt.
Vivian: Why?

Natalie: I think she exaggerates a lot, I’ve even caught her lying before.
Vivian: I know what you mean, I have had to question what she has said in the past, before.

Piper: My son tried to butter me up yesterday because he wants to go to the party tonight. Nora: What did he do to butter you up?

Piper: He started complimenting me and offered to cook dinner for the rest of the family. I told him he could cook dinner but that he still wasn’t going to the party.
Nora: How do you know he wasn’t trying to do something nice for you?

Piper: I know because he hates cooking and he really wanted to go to this party tonight.
Nora: Poor Andrew, why isn’t he allowed to go to the party?

Piper: He’s grounded because he missed his curfew last weekend.
Nora: I understand, at least you weren’t persuaded by his flattery.
Piper: He should know better than to try to butter me up!