food idioms

Exploring Food Idioms

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Salt of the Earth

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Salt of the Earth

a genuine, charitable, down-to-earth person:

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Mark is truly the salt of the earth, always ready to help others in need.

To bring home the bacon

To bring home the bacon

support a family financially:

After finishing college, she worked hard to bring home the bacon for her family

As cool as a cucumber

As cool as a cucumber

very calm and relaxed:

During the stressful presentation, she remained as cool as a cucumber, speaking confidently

...is not my cup of tea

...is not my cup of tea

not my thing/something I like:

I know many people love horror movies, but they're not my cup of tea; I prefer romantic comedies.

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Make an omelet without breaking some eggs

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Make an omelet without breaking some eggs

To achieve something, you may have to accept some negative consequences or make sacrifices :

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If we want to improve the company's performance, we may have to lay off some employees. You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

A couch potato

Ever since he lost his job, he's become a real couch potato, spending hours in front of the TV.

A couch potato

a lazy person who watches too much TV:

Ever since he lost his job, he's become a real couch potato, spending hours in front of the TV.

There’s no point crying over spilled milk

There’s no point crying over spilled milk

a problem has happened, and there’s nothing you can do, so don’t worry:

Yes, I made a mistake, but there's no point crying over spilled milk; let's learn from it and move on.

The apple never falls far from the tree

The apple never falls far from the tree

like father/mother like son/daughter:

Laura is a talented musician, just like her mother. The apple never falls far from the tree!

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Spill the beans

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Spill the beans

reveal a secret/sensitive information:

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I can't believe you spilled the beans about the surprise party; now it's no longer a secret!

A piece of cake

A piece of cake

very easy:

Don't worry about the exam; it's a piece of cake for someone as smart as you!

To butter somebody up

To butter somebody up

to compliment/treat someone nicely to get something:

He was trying to butter up his boss with flattery to get a promotion.

Butter wouldn't melt in her/his mouth

Butter wouldn't melt in her/his mouth

to describe someone who appears innocent or well-behaved but may actually be cunning or deceitful:

She smiled sweetly and acted like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she had planned the whole scheme.

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bitten off more than I can chew

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bitten off more than I can chew

take on a commitment one cannot fulfill:

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I thought I could handle two part-time jobs while studying, but I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Egg on My Face

Egg on My Face

To feel embarrassed or humiliated due to a mistake or failure.:

I had confidently predicted the team's victory, but they lost, and now I have egg on my face.

Multiple Choice

If the company is going to survive the crisis we're going to have to sack 20 people, remember you can't ______

• laugh and love

• make an omelet without breaking some eggs

• bitten off more than I can chew

• spilt the beans

Multiple Choice

My Dad is the one who brings home the _______ in our house.

• cheese

• milk

• rice

• bacon

Multiple Choice

He's exactly like his father, the _______ never falls far from the tree.

• apple

• potato

• orange

• strawberry

Multiple Choice

I'm so stressed at the moment I think I have _______

• make an omelet without breaking some eggs

• bitten off more than I can chew

• brings home the bacon

• butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

Multiple Choice

She looks like ______ , but she's actually really naughty.

• egg on my face

• spilt the beans

• brings home the bacon

• butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

Multiple Choice

I didn't really like the concert, heavy metal isn't really my ___________.

• peace of cake

• cup of tea

• butter in bread

• slice of cheese

Multiple Choice

John almost spilled the ________ about the surprise party.

• rice

• milk

• beans

• water

Multiple Choice

He always tries to ________ the teacher up so that he gets better marks.

• salt

• sugar

• sour cream

• butter