Food idioms and sayings that start with A
Apple of One’s Eye= lumina ochilor
Meaning: A favorite person or thing
Example: Tom has only one daughter, and she’s the apple of his eye
Food idioms and sayings that start with B
Bad Egg= măr stricat
Meaning: Someone who is not to be trusted
Example: John is a bad egg. Don’t trust him!
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew=a mușca mai mult decât poți mesteca
Meaning: Try to do more than one is capable of doing
Example: That’s an important project. Are you sure you can finish it on time? Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Bottom of the Barrel=la fundul butoiului
Meaning: Low quality choices
Example: Our four candidates for the competition have all been disqualified. We’re really getting down to the bottom of the barrel now!
Bring Home the Bacon= a câștiga cașcavalul
Meaning: Earn money for one’s family
Example: My husband may not be the world’s most interesting man, but he brings home the bacon
Food idioms and sayings that start with C
Cry over Spilt Milk= a plânge după laptele vărsat
Meaning: To waste energy moaning about something that has already happened
Example: The vase is broken. Don’t cry over spilt milk! I will buy a new one.
Food idioms and sayings that start with F
Food for thought=hrană pentru minte
Meaning: Something that makes you think carefully
Example: My mother’s advice certainly gave me food for thought.
From Scratch=de la zero, din nimic
Meaning: From individual ingredients, not using a prepared mix
Example: I am cooking dinner from scratch..
Food idioms and sayings that start with H
Hard nut to crack= greu de descifrat
Meaning: A difficult problem or a difficult person
Example: Thomas has a very complex personality. He’s a hard nut to crack
Have a Lot on One’s Plate=a avea multe pe farfurie
Meaning: Be very busy
Example: Can we meet tomorrow? I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.
Have bigger fish to fry=a avea lucruri mai importante de făcut
Meaning: Have more important things to do
Example: It isn’t my problem! I’ve got bigger fish to fry!
Food idioms and sayings that start with I
In a Pickle=în încurcătură
Meaning: In need of help, in a difficult spot
Example: I’m really in a pickle. I spent all the money and I have no way of buying a bus ticket to go home.
Food idioms and sayings that start with L
Like Two Peas in a Pod=ca două boabe de fasole într-o teacă
Meaning: looking the same
Example: Hallie and Maria aren’t sister, but they’re so similar like two peas in a pod.
Food idioms and sayings that start with N
Nutty as a fruitcake=nebun de legat
Meaning: Crazy
Example: My kids are always nutty as fruitcakes when they’ve had something sugary to eat.
Food idioms and sayings that start with P
Piece of Cake=floare la ureche
Meaning: Very easily done
Example: This Maths exercise is a piece of cake.
Pour (Rub) Salt into (on) the Wound (an open wound)= a pune sare pe rană
Meaning: Make a bad situation worse for someone
Example: Breaking up with Mary was bad enough, but seeing her out with Mark just poured salt into an open wound
(Put) All One’s Eggs In One Basket=a pune toate ouăle într-un coș
Meaning: Rely on a specific course of events, to risk
Example: I put all my eggs in one basket when I quit my job and found a new one Note: Generally used with “put,” as in the example.
Food idioms and sayings that start with R
Rotten to the Core= stricat până la miez/măduvă
Meaning: Entirely evil
Example: Sally is rotten to the core. She lies, she cheats, she drinks too much.
Food idioms and sayings that start with S
Sell Like Hotcakes= a se vinde ca pâinea caldă
Meaning: Be sold very quickly
Example: The new car is expected to sell like hotcakes after it’s released.
Simmer Down=a se calma
Meaning: Become less angry; regain one’s composure
Example: Simmer down! I won’t talk to you while you’re acting like this.
Slower than molasses=lent ca melcul
Meaning: Very slow or sluggish; not fast at all.
Example: This old phone my dad gave me is a piece of junk. It’s slower than molasses!
Sour Grapes= struguri acri
Meaning: an attitude in which someone adopts a negative attitude to something because they cannot have it themselves
Example: Since I got the job, Franco has been saying he didn’t want it. But that’s just sour grapes.
Spill the Beans= a sifona, a dezvălui secrete
Meaning: Reveal a secret
Example: We had planned this to be a surprise party for my mother, but Jason spilled the beans
Food idioms and sayings that start with T
There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch= frate, frate dar brânza e pe bani
Meaning: Nothing is given to you without some expectation of something in return.
Example: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You’ll have to do something in return for her, I am sure!
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth= copilul cu moaşe multe rămâne cu buricul netăiat
Meaning: A project works best if there is input from a limited number of people
Example: The kids wanted to do a good science project but too many cooks spoilt the broth.
Note: Too many cooks in the kitchen is another form. This is a proverb.
Tough cookie= personaj dur, tare, puternic
Meaning: a person who is physically and emotionally strong
Example: Don't worry about her she's a tough cookie.
(The) Icing on the Cake/ Cherry on top
Meaning: A bonus; something that makes a good situation even better
Example: My new girlfriend is very intelligent. That she’s beautiful is just icing on the cake!
Food idioms and sayings that start with W & Y
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee= a își reveni în fire
Meaning: Stop deluding yourself
Example: You failed algebra? Wake up and smell the coffee or you're not going to graduate with your class in June.
Walk on Eggshells= a călca pe coji de ouă
Meaning: To have to act very sensitively in order to avoid offending someone
Example: I’m always walking on eggshells when I meet with her She has good ideas, but she gets angry easily.
You Can’t Make an Omelet (Omelette) Without Breaking Some Eggs= a face omletă fără să sparge niște ouă
Meaning: Achieving a major goal requires the ability to tolerate some problems
Example: Your students clearly don't respect you. I know you don't want to yell at them, but you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
1. As fit as a fiddle
To be as fit as a fiddle is to be in excellent physical shape or to be very healthy.
“Are you ready for our run this morning?”
“Ready?! I’m feeling as fit as a fiddle. ”
2. Alive and kicking
The basic definition is something that’s (still) functioning in a good way. This can be a person, an object or even an idea!
“My grandma is still alive and kicking at 90 years old. She never slows down!”
3. Under the knife
To go under the knife is to have surgery or an operation.
“How’s your brother?”
“He’s ok; he’s going under the knife next week to have surgery on his leg.”
4. Under the weather
Under the weather refers to being unwell, typically with a cold or other small sickness.
“Are you coming to the party tonight?”
“I am not sure. I’m feeling a bit under the weather.”
5. To be back on one’s feet
If you’re back on your feet, then you’ve successfully recovered from injury or sickness and are feeling better again! It means to be in good health after a difficult time.
“How was the surgery?”
“It was tough, but it’s great to be back on my feet!”
6. As sick as a dog
As sick as a dog simply means very sick
It mostly refers to sickness that involves nausea and vomiting.
“I was as sick as a dog after we ate that chicken from the new restaurant last night.”
7. A clean bill of health
A clean bill of health is when a medical professional acknowledges that you’re healthy and free from health related issues.
“The hikers who were lost in the woods for two days received a clean bill of health from the local hospital.”
8. A picture of health
If somebody is a picture of health, then they’re in visually great physical condition.
“He lay propped on pillows, looking the picture of health!”
9. Out of shape
It describes somebody who’s physically unfit. This idiom is often used to refer to oneself.
“How was running today?”
“Very tough! I’m pretty out of shape, so I’m surprised I made it to the end!”
10. To turn one’s stomach
If something turns your stomach, then it gives you an immediate feeling of nausea or sickness. You can also describe something as stomach turning. This idiom is commonly but not always, used to refer to food.
“Even the sight of cheese turns my stomach! I don’t know why.”
11. To have a new lease on life
This idiom can be considered a health idiom because it refers to a change in mental attitude or outlook.
“Meditating every morning has given me a new lease on life. I’ve never been happier!”
“After her surgery, she was given a new lease on life and decided to travel the world.”
12. As pale as a ghost
If someone is as pale as a ghost, then they’re very pale. Pale is a very light shade of color associated with sickness.
“Is he alright? He looks as pale as a ghost. I think he’s going to vomit!”