Learn 13 natural English expressions about eating and hunger. You’ll learn natural phrases that native speakers use every day, making your English sound more natural and engaging.
These everyday expressions are useful for conversations, exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or CAE, and improving your fluency in real-life situations. Pay attention to how they are used and try to incorporate them into your own English.
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List of English Expressions
Natural English Expressions About Eating
Harry
Talking about food is a part of daily life, but are you using the right expressions? Native English speakers don’t just say “I’m hungry” or “I want to eat”—they use natural phrases that make their English sound more fluent.
In this lesson, you’ll learn essential expressions about eating and hunger that will help you speak more naturally and confidently in English. Whether you’re describing your appetite, talking about food, or even discussing time and money, these phrases will make your English sound more like a native speaker’s.
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eat your words
Meaning: to admit being wrong about something previously said
Examples:
James opposed the risky proposal but had to eat his words when it succeeded.
Liam said his team would struggle but ate his words when they reached the top.
eat into your time/money
Meaning: to use up a large amount of time or money
Examples:
Higher taxes eat into our money, leaving us with less to spend.
Rising inflation eats into our money, making it harder to afford the same goods as before.
Replying to emails is important, but it eats into my time for other projects.
Checking students’ homework is necessary, but it eats into my time for lesson planning.
Spending long hours on the internet eats into people’s time.
eat sb out of house and home
Meaning: to eat so much that it causes financial or practical difficulty for the provider
Examples:
Our sons eat us out of house and home when they come to visit us.
My nephew eats me out of house and home every time he visits. He’s always raiding the fridge.
Natural English Expressions About Eating
have sb eating out of your hand
Meaning: to have complete control over someone, making them eager to please
Examples:
She knows exactly how to get what she wants. She has her father eating out of her hand.
The politician was so persuasive that he had the crowd eating out of his hand.
lose your appetite
Meaning: to stop feeling hungry, often due to stress, illness, or emotions
Examples:
She lost her appetite due to illness and couldn’t eat anything all day.
The food looked unappetising, and she immediately lost her appetite.
With all the stress at work, she lost her appetite for days.
I’ve suddenly lost my appetite. I couldn’t eat that. I think I’ll try somewhere else.
With a tight deadline approaching, he lost his appetite and couldn’t think about food.
quench your thirst
Meaning: to drink something to stop feeling thirsty
Examples:
After running in the heat, he grabbed a cold bottle of water to quench his thirst.
On a hot day, a glass of chilled fruit juice will quench your thirst.
on a full/empty stomach
Meaning: after eating a lot or without having eaten
Examples:
Running on a full stomach is not a good idea because it can make you feel uncomfortable or sick.
You can’t go and swim on a full stomach. You’ve just eaten, so why don’t you wait an hour?
Giving a presentation on an empty stomach is not a good idea because you might feel nervous or low on energy.
Don’t go to the exam on an empty stomach. Have a good breakfast.
Drinking on an empty stomach is not a good idea because alcohol will affect you more quickly.
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be famished
Meaning: to be extremely hungry
Examples:
After skipping lunch, I was absolutely famished by dinner time.
We walked for hours, and by the time we got home, I was famished.
be peckish
Meaning: to be slightly hungry
Examples:
I’m not very hungry, but I’m a bit peckish—I’ll have a small snack.
She felt peckish in the afternoon and grabbed a biscuit with her tea.
be full up
Meaning: to have eaten so much that you can’t eat any more
Examples:
I can’t eat another bite—I’m completely full up.
After that huge meal, we were all full up and just wanted to rest.
feel faint with hunger
Meaning: to feel weak due to extreme hunger
Examples:
I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and after working through lunch, I feel faint with hunger.
He had been walking for hours without food and started to feel faint with hunger.
eat like a bird
Meaning: to eat very little
Examples:
There’s something wrong with Mum. She’s eating like a bird and barely touches her meals.
Oh, I’m on a diet. I’m eating like a bird these days.
Natural English Expressions About Eating
I could eat a horse
Meaning: used to say that someone is very hungry
Example:
I skipped breakfast and lunch, and now I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
satisfy your hunger
Meaning: to eat enough to no longer feel hungry
Examples:
A hot, cheesy pizza with all your favourite toppings will satisfy your hunger.
A plate of sushi is the perfect way to satisfy your hunger when you’re craving something fresh.
work up an appetite
Meaning: to become hungry, often due to physical activity
Examples:
I have been playing tennis all afternoon. I really worked up an appetite. I could really murder burger now.
Mother told the kids to run around outside to work up an appetite before dinner.
Now you’ve got some practical expressions to use in daily conversations. Try them next time you’re ordering food, talking about meals, or describing hunger. The more you practise using them, the more natural and fluent your English will become.
If you need any help, you can contact me at englishlessonviaskype.com
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more information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Intermediate English travel vocabulary
English vocabulary related to driving
You can always study English advanced level at Learning English with the BBC and British Council Learn English.
