Sometimes we feel so hungry that just saying “I’m hungry” doesn’t feel strong enough. That’s when idioms can help. Idioms are fun expressions that don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but people still understand them. They can make speaking and writing more interesting.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms that people use to talk about hunger. These phrases are often used in daily life, at home or school. You’ll also see examples and get to try a short quiz. Understanding these idioms will help you speak more clearly and make your writing more lively.
Idioms for Hungry
1. Hungry as a bear
Meaning: Very hungry
Sample Sentences: I was hungry as a bear after soccer practice. / He came home hungry as a bear.
Other Way to Say: Starving / So hungry I could eat anything
2. Stomach growling
Meaning: Your tummy is making noise because you’re hungry
Sample Sentences: My stomach was growling during math class. / Her stomach growled when she smelled pizza.
Other Way to Say: Tummy rumbling / Belly making noise
3. Could eat a horse
Meaning: Really, really hungry
Sample Sentences: I could eat a horse after gym. / He said he could eat a horse before dinner.
Other Way to Say: Super hungry / Starving
4. Running on empty
Meaning: Having no food or energy
Sample Sentences: I skipped lunch and felt like I was running on empty. / She was running on empty by the end of the hike.
Other Way to Say: No energy / Super tired and hungry
5. Hollow legs
Meaning: Someone who eats a lot but never seems full
Sample Sentences: My brother has hollow legs, he eats all the time! / You must have hollow legs after eating two burgers.
Other Way to Say: Bottomless pit / Eats nonstop
6. Like a bottomless pit
Meaning: Keeps eating and never gets full
Sample Sentences: He’s like a bottomless pit at parties. / I felt like a bottomless pit after recess.
Other Way to Say: Never full / Always hungry
7. Starving Marvin
Meaning: A fun way to say you’re really hungry
Sample Sentences: I’m Starving Marvin today! / Starving Marvin needs lunch now!
Other Way to Say: Famished / Really hungry
8. Eat like a horse
Meaning: Eat a lot
Sample Sentences: She eats like a horse after dance class. / I eat like a horse on game days.
Other Way to Say: Big appetite / Eats tons
9. Peckish
Meaning: A little hungry
Sample Sentences: I’m feeling peckish, can I have a snack? / He was peckish before bedtime.
Other Way to Say: Snacky / A little hungry
10. Ready to eat
Meaning: Super hungry and want food now
Sample Sentences: I’m ready to eat the second I get home. / After school, I’m always ready to eat.
Other Way to Say: Let’s eat / Bring on the food
11. Like a wolf
Meaning: Very hungry and fast at eating
Sample Sentences: He ate like a wolf after practice. / I was so hungry, I gobbled it down like a wolf.
Other Way to Say: Devoured it / Ate super fast
12. Tummy’s talking
Meaning: Stomach making sounds because you’re hungry
Sample Sentences: My tummy’s talking, it’s lunch time! / Her tummy was talking all morning.
Other Way to Say: Stomach growling / Time to eat
13. Could eat the whole fridge
Meaning: So hungry you want to eat everything
Sample Sentences: I could eat the whole fridge right now! / He opened the fridge saying he could eat it all.
Other Way to Say: Very hungry / Craving everything
14. Like a hungry lion
Meaning: Strong, wild hunger
Sample Sentences: He was like a hungry lion at the dinner table. / I felt like a hungry lion before lunch.
Other Way to Say: Fierce appetite / Starving
15. Food on the brain
Meaning: Thinking only about food
Sample Sentences: I have food on the brain, it’s almost lunch! / She couldn’t focus because she had food on the brain.
Other Way to Say: Craving / Thinking about eating
16. Need some fuel
Meaning: Need food to get energy
Sample Sentences: I need some fuel before my game. / Let’s get some fuel, we’re tired and hungry.
Other Way to Say: Grab a snack / Time to eat
17. Eyes bigger than your stomach
Meaning: Take more food than you can eat
Sample Sentences: I grabbed too much, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. / His eyes were bigger than his stomach at the buffet.
Other Way to Say: Took too much / Couldn’t finish
18. Gnawing hunger
Meaning: Hunger that feels strong and won’t go away
Sample Sentences: I had a gnawing hunger during class. / She felt a gnawing hunger by noon.
Other Way to Say: Deep hunger / Hard to ignore
19. Like I haven’t eaten in days
Meaning: So hungry it feels like it’s been forever
Sample Sentences: I feel like I haven’t eaten in days! / He acted like he hadn’t eaten in days.
Other Way to Say: Starving / Famished
20. Growling like a tiger
Meaning: Stomach making loud, hungry noises
Sample Sentences: My stomach is growling like a tiger. / His tummy was growling like a tiger in class.
Other Way to Say: Loud stomach / Hungry noises
21. Time to chow down
Meaning: Time to eat a lot
Sample Sentences: It’s time to chow down, pizza’s here! / We were ready to chow down after practice.
Other Way to Say: Dig in / Let’s eat
22. Like a vacuum cleaner
Meaning: Eating fast and sucking everything up
Sample Sentences: He ate like a vacuum cleaner. / I was a vacuum cleaner at dinner!
Other Way to Say: Ate it all / Cleaned the plate
23. Rumbly in my tumbly
Meaning: A funny way to say your stomach is making noise
Sample Sentences: I’ve got a rumbly in my tumbly, snack time! / He said “rumbly in my tumbly” before lunch.
Other Way to Say: Hungry / Tummy’s talking
24. Dig in
Meaning: Start eating right away
Sample Sentences: The food’s hot, let’s dig in! / We all dug in as soon as the food came.
Other Way to Say: Eat / Start your meal
25. Eat you out of house and home
Meaning: Eat a lot of food at someone’s place
Sample Sentences: He ate us out of house and home during his visit! / My cousin could eat us out of house and home.
Other Way to Say: Eats a ton / Always hungry
26. Feeling empty
Meaning: Stomach feels like nothing is in it
Sample Sentences: My stomach feels empty, it’s snack time. / She was feeling empty before dinner.
Other Way to Say: Need food / Very hungry
27. Grab a bite
Meaning: Eat something quick
Sample Sentences: Let’s grab a bite before the movie. / We grabbed a bite after school.
Other Way to Say: Have a snack / Quick meal
28. Stomach’s on strike
Meaning: Stomach hurting or complaining because it’s hungry
Sample Sentences: My stomach is on strike, give me food! / His stomach was on strike before dinner.
Other Way to Say: Very hungry / Upset belly
29. Feeling weak
Meaning: Low energy from not eating
Sample Sentences: I’m feeling weak, I need lunch. / She felt weak after skipping breakfast.
Other Way to Say: Tired from hunger / Need food energy
30. Craving something
Meaning: Really want a certain food
Sample Sentences: I’m craving pizza. / She’s craving something sweet.
Other Way to Say: Want badly / Can’t stop thinking about
31. Hangry
Meaning: Angry because you’re hungry
Sample Sentences: I get hangry before dinner. / He was hangry after the long bus ride.
Other Way to Say: Moody from hunger / Grumpy and hungry
32. Mouth is watering
Meaning: See or smell food and really want it
Sample Sentences: My mouth is watering at that pie. / Her mouth watered when she saw the cookies.
Other Way to Say: Can’t wait to eat / Looks yummy
33. Can’t wait to eat
Meaning: Excited for food
Sample Sentences: I can’t wait to eat this burger. / She said she can’t wait to eat grandma’s pie.
Other Way to Say: So hungry / Food looks great
34. Like a hungry hippo
Meaning: Eating quickly and messily
Sample Sentences: He was like a hungry hippo at lunch. / I felt like a hungry hippo eating those snacks.
Other Way to Say: Gobbled it up / Ate fast
35. Food, glorious food
Meaning: Saying in a fun way that you love food
Sample Sentences: Food, glorious food, it’s dinner time! / We sang “food, glorious food” before the party.
Other Way to Say: Yum / I love food
36. Can’t think straight
Meaning: Too hungry to focus
Sample Sentences: I can’t think straight, I need lunch. / She couldn’t think straight until she ate.
Other Way to Say: Need food now / Too hungry to focus
37. Like a kid in a candy store
Meaning: Super excited about food
Sample Sentences: I was like a kid in a candy store at the buffet. / He felt like a kid in a candy store at the bake sale.
Other Way to Say: So excited / Can’t wait to eat
38. Bite your arm off
Meaning: Very, very hungry
Sample Sentences: I’m so hungry I could bite my arm off. / He joked that he’d bite his arm off if lunch didn’t come soon.
Other Way to Say: Famished / Desperate to eat
39. Food is calling my name
Meaning: You feel like the food is waiting for you
Sample Sentences: That pizza is calling my name. / I hear mac and cheese calling my name!
Other Way to Say: I need to eat / Looks too good
40. Gobble it up
Meaning: Eat something fast and eagerly
Sample Sentences: I gobbled up my snack. / She gobbled up her lunch in no time.
Other Way to Say: Ate quickly / Devoured
41. Food monster
Meaning: Someone who eats a lot
Sample Sentences: He turns into a food monster after school. / I’m a food monster when I’m hungry.
Other Way to Say: Big eater / Always hungry
42. Can’t wait to dig in
Meaning: Super eager to start eating
Sample Sentences: I can’t wait to dig in to this dinner. / She said she couldn’t wait to dig in.
Other Way to Say: Ready to eat / So hungry
43. Like a shark
Meaning: Eating quickly, like a shark
Sample Sentences: He was like a shark at the BBQ. / I ate my sandwich like a shark.
Other Way to Say: Fast eater / Devoured it
44. Snack attack
Meaning: Sudden strong hunger for snacks
Sample Sentences: I had a snack attack after school. / A snack attack hit me during class.
Other Way to Say: Need a snack / Craving food
45. Food frenzy
Meaning: Eating a lot and quickly
Sample Sentences: The pizza party turned into a food frenzy! / We had a food frenzy at lunch.
Other Way to Say: Ate fast / Everyone was super hungry
46. Eat like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: Eat a lot, like it’s the last chance
Sample Sentences: He ate like there’s no tomorrow. / I ate like there’s no tomorrow at the party.
Other Way to Say: Stuffed myself / Ate everything
47. Scarf it down
Meaning: Eat very fast
Sample Sentences: I scarfed down my sandwich before class. / She scarfed it down like she hadn’t eaten in days.
Other Way to Say: Ate quickly / Gobbled up
48. Eyes on the prize
Meaning: Focused on the food
Sample Sentences: My eyes were on the prize, pizza! / She had her eyes on the prize: a giant cookie.
Other Way to Say: Can’t wait to eat / Focused on food
49. Table’s my happy place
Meaning: Love being where the food is
Sample Sentences: The table is my happy place during dinner. / She said her happy place is the table with snacks.
Other Way to Say: Food time is best / I love eating
50. Eating like it’s a race
Meaning: Eating super fast
Sample Sentences: He was eating like it’s a race. / I ate my food like it was a race!
Other Way to Say: Super quick eating / Rushed through my meal
51. Craving kicks in
Meaning: Suddenly really want food
Sample Sentences: My craving kicked in during class. / Her craving for cookies kicked in after dinner.
Other Way to Say: Need it now / Food craving
52. Can’t stop munching
Meaning: Keep eating and can’t stop
Sample Sentences: I can’t stop munching on chips. / He couldn’t stop munching after school.
Other Way to Say: Snacking non-stop / Keep eating
53. Belly’s begging
Meaning: Stomach feels like it’s asking for food
Sample Sentences: My belly is begging me to eat. / Her belly was begging before dinner.
Other Way to Say: So hungry / Stomach wants food
54. In snack mode
Meaning: Ready to snack all the time
Sample Sentences: I’m in snack mode until dinner. / She’s always in snack mode after school.
Other Way to Say: Want snacks / Eating small bites
55. Feeling food-ish
Meaning: Wanting food soon
Sample Sentences: I’m feeling food-ish right now. / He said he was food-ish after his game.
Other Way to Say: Getting hungry / Wanting something to eat
Multiple Choice Quiz: Idioms for Hungry
1. What does “hungry as a horse” mean?
A. You want to eat quietly
B. You are very hungry
C. You want to eat slowly
2. If your “stomach is growling,” what is happening?
A. You feel angry
B. You are full
C. Your body is making noise because you’re hungry
3. What does it mean if someone “wolfed down” their food?
A. They didn’t eat it
B. They ate it quickly
C. They gave it to a friend
4. When someone says “I could eat a horse,” what do they really mean?
A. They want to ride a horse
B. They are very hungry
C. They don’t like meat
5. What does “food on the brain” mean?
A. You’re thinking about eating
B. You have food stuck to your head
C. You don’t like food
6. If your “eyes are bigger than your stomach,” what happened?
A. You didn’t eat enough
B. You ate too fast
C. You took more food than you could eat
7. What does it mean to “have the munchies”?
A. You want a snack
B. You are brushing your teeth
C. You’re full from dinner
8. What does “running on empty” mean?
A. You forgot your backpack
B. You don’t have energy because you’re hungry
C. You are very full
9. If someone is “always snacking,” what are they doing?
A. Sleeping
B. Playing games
C. Eating small foods often
10. What does “chow down” mean?
A. Throw food away
B. Start eating
C. Go outside
11. If someone says “my belly is empty,” what do they mean?
A. They feel hungry
B. They are full
C. They don’t want food
12. What does it mean to “gobble it up”?
A. Eat carefully
B. Eat slowly
C. Eat very quickly
Answer Key
- B. You are very hungry
- C. Your body is making noise because you’re hungry
- B. They ate it quickly
- B. They are very hungry
- A. You’re thinking about eating
- C. You took more food than you could eat
- A. You want a snack
- B. You don’t have energy because you’re hungry
- C. Eating small foods often
- B. Start eating
- A. They feel hungry
- C. Eat very quickly
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
You understand hunger idioms really well! - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
Great job! Just a little more practice and you’ll master them. - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
You’re learning, keep going and review a few idioms again. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
No worries! This is just the beginning, keep practicing and you’ll improve.
Conclusion
Hunger idioms are a fun way to talk about feeling hungry in different situations. They help us describe how we feel using short and creative phrases. Knowing these expressions can make speaking and writing more clear and interesting.
Now that you’ve learned these idioms, try using them in your own sentences. Whether you’re grabbing a snack or feeling starving after school, there’s always a phrase that fits. Keep practicing, and these will soon feel easy to use.
