Food and Drink Idioms

Apple Beer Biscuit Butter Cake Chips Chocolate Eggs Fat Milk
Mustard Pear Pie Potato Punch Salt Sausage Tea Water

Insert the words from above into the most appropriate sentences below.

1) I’m going to have to eat humble _______ and tell them I was wrong. (To apologise in humiliating
circumstances)

2) When her son left home she was very sad. He was always the _________ of her eye. (Loved very much)

3) After dinner, my grandfather and Uncle Bob sat on the porch and chewed the ________ for a while.
(Chatted)

4) I bought this PC a week ago but I’m thinking of taking it back to the shop. It just doesn’t cut the
___________. (Doesn’t meet the required standard)

5) We have spent all of our money. When I checked the bank account there wasn’t a ___________.
(Nothing left)

6) Tracy is trying to __________ up her father because she wants to go to the concert on Friday. (Be
very nice to)

7) The subject of immigration is always a hot ____________ in politics. (Controversial)

8) That holiday was as cheap as _______________. (Very economical)

9) The project has gone __________-shaped and we need to start again. (Not go according to plan)

10) It’s better to take what he says with a pinch of _________. He’s not the most honest man in the
world and if he does tell you the truth, he normally exaggerates everything out of all proportion. (Be sceptical, not
believe it all)

11) The exam was a piece of ___________. I don’t think anybody failed. (Very easy)

12) I’ve lost my wallet I’m afraid but there’s no use in crying over spilt ____________. I’ll cancel my
bank cards and wait until they send me some new ones before I go for a night out or buy anything. (Not
get upset)

13) When he took my girlfriend away from me I didn’t mind. When he got promoted before me it
wasn’t a problem. What really took the ____________ was when he borrowed my Lady Gaga CD and
didn’t give it back!
(He crossed the line and it was too much to take)

14) This PC I bought is no good whatsoever. It takes forever to connect to the internet and the hard
disk is only 250MB. It’s as useful as a ____________ teapot. (Completely useless)

15) We need to expand the business and stop relying so much on the tourists to make our money. We
shouldn’t put all of our _________ in one basket. (Depend too much on one thing)

Follow up!
Now write five sentences using the expressions from above:
e.g. This book is the best thing since sliced bread. etc.
 Food Idioms: Origins Quiz
1) What is the origin of the expression “to eat humble pie?”
a) In the mid-18th century, during a particularly horrible economic recession, many people would have to go out and beg for money in the
street. As there wasn’t much money around, it was very difficult for the beggars who would often return to wherever they were living with
empty stomachs. Some of these beggars would stand outside church and “hum” the songs that they had heard inside because they didn’t know
the words. As such, a play on words ensued, “hum” was replaced by “humble” and if they managed to get enough to buy a pie to eat, they
would be said to be eating ”humble pie.”
b) The expression comes from “umble pie” which in turn comes from the French word “nomble” and relates to parts of animals that are less
desirable to eat; in other words offal. This would be the stomach, ears, nose and similar bits. In the middle ages, the poorer members of
society would eat this while the upper classes would eat better quality meat pies. If somebody from the upper classes had to go and speak to
someone from more “humble” backgrounds, they would have to share their food, hence the expression.
c) The expression refers to feet rather than pies and is taken from Spanish. English prisoners of war during the 16 th century who were captured
by the Spanish were told never to look into the face of their Spanish guards. There would be a sign in mixed English and Spanish in the prison
camps telling the prisoners to look at their feet (pies in Spanish) and to be more humble. The English pronounced the Spanish words the same
way as the English word, hence the expression.
2) What is the origin of the expression “the apple of his/her eye”
a) In mediaeval England, village fairs were very common and mixed the Christian religion with the country’s pagan past. An old tradition was for
young unmarried men or women to be given to each other in competitions. One of the competitions was very brutal and involved throwing
apples at a single person who would be sat above a large tank of water. Other young single people would try and hit the head of the person sat
in the chair with an apple. If the person in the chair had their eyes bruised by the apple they would be said to have met the “apple of their eye.”
b) This expression comes from East London and the local dialect known as Cockney Rhyming Slang. Eye rhymes with pie, as in apple pie. Many
years ago, before ice cream and crisps, apple pie was seen as the best possible thing to eat. If somebody was said to be like apple pie, they
were said to be the best thing there is. In cockney rhyming slang, the eye was exchanged for pie.
c) The expression refers to a passage in the Bible and the story of Jacob and how he was looked after by God while he was in the desert and in
great danger. The expression is used because people would compare the pupil of the eye to an apple and if somebody was watching a person
to see that they came to no harm, they would be in the apple, in other words, the pupil, of that person’s eye. As such, this indicated that the
person watching cared very much for the person being watched.
3) What is the origin of the expression “to chew the fat?”
a) This comes from the Industrial Revolution. In some factories in the late 18 th century, it was forbidden to talk although workers were allowed
to eat at their machines as food breaks were also forbidden. When having a conversation, the workers would pretend to be eating and if asked
by their supervisors if they were talking they would say that they were only “chewing the fat.”
b) This is about the food that sailors would eat on long voyages in the days of sailing boats. Salted fat would be stored on boats for these long
voyages because it would not go rotten. This salted fat would get quite hard and chewing it would take a long time. When sitting down to eat
this food, the sailors would engage in idle conversation while trying to chew this unusually hard fat.
c) This refers to religious diets in England in the 12 th century. Just before Easter, the church would forbid the eating of meat except leftover fat
from previous meals. Talking was also forbidden during the day. There was nothing else to eat during the three days of Easter. When the sun
went down, people would gather and eat the fat that had been prepared with spices and sauces and then everybody would sit down and talk
about the day. This was known as “chewing the fat.”
4) What is the origin of the expression “to cut the mustard?”
a) In the UK in the mid-19th century, a Scottish, high ranking officer, called Colonel Mustard, took a regiment of soldiers to Afghanistan. These
soldiers did a lot of fighting in the mountains and were known as tough soldiers. Each soldier would have to personally fight with the colonel
with a sword. If they couldn’t land at least one blow on the colonel, it would be said that they didn’t “cut the Mustard” and would be sent to
another regiment.
b) This expression refers to the harvesting of mustard plants. In Norfolk, in the early 19 th century, mustard farms were big business and
harvesting the plants, although unskilled, was hard work. People who wanted work harvesting mustard plants were shown how to cut the
plant, which was hard and fibrous, with a billhook (a circular knife) and were then given 10 minutes to show just how much they could collect. If
they could “cut the mustard,” they were given a job.
c) This expression comes from the practice of making hot and spicy food for long voyages from India in the late 18 th century. The cooks on these
ships were selected for their skills in the kitchens and herbs and spices were very expensive although necessary to keep the food from going
bad. Mustards seeds were crushed with a knife on a wooden board and then collected and put into a pot. If the cook could not carry out this
simple task, he would be given a different duty on board the ship.
5) What is the origin of the expression “not a sausage?”
a) This is an expression that comes from East London and the local dialect known as Cockney Rhyming Slang. In this dialect, normal words are
replaced by words that rhyme with the original word. Cash rhymes with mash, as in sausage and mash (mashed potatoes and sausages). The
word mash is omitted, as is often the case in rhyming slang, and not a sausage means “nothing” or more specifically, no cash.
b) This expression refers to the Napoleonic Wars between France and The UK. Captured French POWs would be given British sausages to eat
which the French detainees would say were not sausages. The English responded by putting empty plates in front of the French POWs saying
that they were not sausages, either. To this day, British sausages are not actually classified by the European Union as sausages and this was
mentioned many times during the Brexit debates of 2016.
c) This expression dates from the 15th century and refers to an early form of torture. Spies and political enemies would be tied up in their cells
and would only be able to reach a limited supply of dripping water. They would not be fed but a large sausage would be suspended above
them. Eventually the prisoner would break down and ask for the sausage in return for information. He would not get a sausage until he talked.
 Follow up!
Now write five false origins for the expressions from the other page.
Answers
1) I’m going to have to eat humble pie and tell them I was wrong. (To apologise in humiliating circumstances)

2) When her son left home she was very sad. He was always the apple of her eye. (Loved very much)

3) After dinner, my grandfather and Uncle Bob sat on the porch and chewed the fat for a while. (Chatted)

4) I bought this PC a week ago but I’m thinking of taking it back to the shop. It just doesn’t cut the mustard. (Doesn’t
meet the required standard)

5) We have spent all of our money. When I checked the bank account there wasn’t a sausage. (Nothing left)

6) Tracy is trying to butter up her father because she wants to go to the concert on Friday. (Be very nice to)

7) The subject of immigration is always a hot potato in politics. (Controversial)

8) That holiday was as cheap as chips. (Very economical)

9) The project has gone pear-shaped and we need to start again. (Not go according to plan)

10) It’s better to take what he says with a pinch of salt. He’s not the most honest man in the world and if he does tell
you the truth, he normally exaggerates everything out of all proportion. (Be sceptical, not believe it all)

11) The exam was a piece of cake. I don’t think anybody failed. (Very easy)

12) I’ve lost my wallet I’m afraid but there’s no use in crying over spilt milk. I’ll cancel my bank cards and wait until they
send me some new ones before I go for a night out or buy anything. (Not get upset)

13) When he took my girlfriend away from me I didn’t mind. When he got promoted before me it wasn’t a problem.
What really took the biscuit was when he borrowed my Lady Gaga CD and didn’t give it back!
(He crossed the line and it was too much to take)

14) This PC I bought is no good whatsoever. It takes forever to connect to the internet and the hard disk is only 250MB.
It’s as useful as a chocolate teapot. (Completely useless)

15) We need to expand the business and stop relying so much on the tourists to make our money. We shouldn’t put all
of our eggs in one basket. (Depend too much on one thing)

16) She was as pleased as punch when we told her we were going to get married. (Very happy)

17) Football isn’t really my cup of tea. I prefer to watch motor racing. (Not the preferred choice)

18) I need to start going to the gym. I’m starting to get a bit of a beer belly. (Getting fat around the middle)

20) All this talk of food is making my mouth water. (Making me very hungry)
 Answers

1) What is the origin of the expression “to eat humble pie?”

a) In the mid-18th century, during a particularly horrible economic recession, many people would have to go out and beg for money in the
street. As there wasn’t much money around, it was very difficult for the beggars who would often return to wherever they were living with
empty stomachs. Some of these beggars would stand outside church and “hum” the songs that they had heard inside because they didn’t know
the words. As such, a play on words ensued, “hum” was replaced by “humble” and if they managed to get enough to by a pie to eat, they would
be said to be eating ”humble pie.”
b) The expression comes from “umble pie” which in turn comes from the French word “nomble” and relates to parts of animals that are less
desirable to eat; in other words offal. This would be the stomach, ears, nose and similar bits. In the middle ages, the poorer members of
society would eat this while the upper classes would eat better quality meat pies. If somebody from the upper classes had to go and speak to
someone from more “humble” backgrounds, they would have to share their food, hence the expression.
c) The expression refers to feet rather than pies and is taken from Spanish. English prisoners of war during the 16 th century who were captured
by the Spanish were told never to look into the face of their Spanish guards. There would be a sign in mixed English and Spanish in the prison
camps telling the prisoners to look at their feet (pies in Spanish) and to be more humble. The English pronounced the Spanish words the same
way as the English word, hence the expression.
2) What is the origin of the expression “the apple of his/her eye”
a) In mediaeval England, village fairs were very common and mixed the Christian religion with the country’s pagan past. And old tradition was
for young unmarried men or women to be given to each other in competitions. One of the competitions was very brutal and involved throwing
apples at a single person who would be sat above a large tank of water. Other young single people would try and hit the head of the person sat
in the chair with an apple. If the person in the chair had their eyes bruised by the apple they would be said to have met the “apple of their eye.”
b) This expression comes from East London and the local dialect known as Cockney Rhyming Slang. Eye rhymes with pie, as in apple pie. Many
years ago, before ice cream and crisps, apple pie was seen as the best possible thing to eat. If somebody was said to be like apple pie, they
were said to be the best thing there is. In cockney rhyming slang, the eye was exchanged for pie.
c) The expression refers to passage in the Bible and the story of Jacob and how he was looked after by God while he was in the desert and in
great danger. The expression is used because people would compare the pupil of the eye to an apple and if somebody was watching a person
to see that they came to no harm, they would be in the apple, in other words, the pupil, of that person’s eye. As such, this indicated that the
person watching cared very much for the person being watched.
3) What is the origin of the expression “to chew the fat?”
a) This comes from the Industrial Revolution. In some factories in the late 18 th century, it was forbidden to talk although workers were allowed
to eat at their machines as food breaks were also forbidden. When having a conversation, the workers would pretend to be eating and if asked
by their supervisors if they were talking they would say that they were only “chewing the fat.”
b) This is about the food that sailors would eat on long voyages in the days of sailing boats. Salted fat would be stored on boats for these long
voyages because it would not go rotten. This salted fat would get quite hard and chewing it would take a long time. When sitting down to eat
this food, the sailors would engage in idle conversation while trying to chew this unusually hard fat.
c) This refers to religious diets in England in the 12 th century. Just before Easter, the church would forbid the eating of meat except leftover fat
from previous meals. Talking was also forbidden during the day. There was nothing else to eat during the three days of Easter. When the sun
went down, people would gather and eat the fat that had been prepared with spices and sauces and then everybody would sit down and talk
about the day. This was known as “chewing the fat.”
4) What is the origin of the expression “to cut the mustard?”
a) In the UK in the mid-19th century, a Scottish, high ranking officer, called Colonel Mustard, took a regiment of soldiers to Afghanistan. These
soldiers did a lot of fighting in the mountains and were known as tough soldiers. Each soldier would have to personally fight with the colonel
with a sword. If they couldn’t land at least one blow on the colonel, it would be said that they didn’t “cut the Mustard” and would be sent to
another regiment.
b) This expression refers to the harvesting of mustard plants. In Norfolk, in the early 19 th century, mustard farms were big business and
harvesting the plants, although unskilled, was hard work. People who wanted work harvesting mustard plants were shown how to cut the
plant, which was hard and fibrous, with a billhook (a circular knife) and were then given 10 minutes to show just how much they could collect. If
they could “cut the mustard,” they were given a job.
c) This expression comes from the practice of making hot and spicy food for long voyages from India in the late 18 th century. The cooks on these
ships were selected for their skills in the kitchens and herbs and spices were very expensive although necessary to keep the food from going