This, the 15th instalment of this series, will start the ball rolling for food idioms. Read their explanation before trying your hand at the game (click on the image to begin).
the apple of someone’s eye
If someone is the apple of your eye, it means that the person is the one you love most and whom you're proud of: Tom loves all his children very much, but you can tell little Elaine's the apple of his eye.
bring home the bacon
If you're the one who brings home the bacon, you're the one who's earning the money to support the family: In my family, it's my mother who's the one to bring home the bacon.
save someone's skin/neck/bacon
This means to save someone from harm or a difficult situation: My car broke down in the middle of nowhere, but luckily, a police car drove by - that really saved my bacon.
cast/throw your bread upon the waters
This first came from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” This expression is used to say that your good deeds will eventually bring you benefits.
not have a bean
To be broke; to have very little or no money.
know which side your bread is buttered (on)
To know this is to know how to act in your best interests; to know who to be nice to in order to gain advantages for yourself: Sally's always bending over backwards to help her boss - she sure knows on which side her bread is buttered.
eat someone alive for breakfast/lunch
To deal with or defeat someone very easily: You're playing a game with Tim? You stand no chance! He's national champion, he'll eat you alive!
butter wouldn't melt in your mouth
If someone says that to you it means that they think you may look sweet and innocent, but is actually rather dangerous. You may look as though you wouldn't do anything wrong, but the truth is you would: "Look at that girl over there! Isn't she sweet?" "Where? Oh, that's Karen. I'd stay away - butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
have your cake and eat it (too)
This is used in situations where there are incompatible alternatives, but you want to have the benefits of all of them: Sam's engaged to Diane, but he's still dating Sharon; he wants to have his cake and eat it too.
a piece of cake
If something is a piece of cake, it means that it is extremely easy: Yesterday's exam was a piece of cake!
take the biscuit/cake
The most silly or annoying thing, e.g. We waited for three hours in the pouring rain to get the tickets only to be told that they were all sold out! That really took the biscuit!
Be sure to check out the rest in this series. Go to the index file and search (ctrl F) for 'Idioms'.
real help
ReplyDeletereal fun
Thank you, glad you liked it, anonymous!
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