Yes, the inside of cucumbers are cooler than their surroundings, but that doesn’t mean as much as you think. If you were to pick up a room temperature cucumber and insert a temperature probe into it, you’d find it to be somewhat cooler than the temperature of the room. You may even find it to […]
Food Idioms
Food idioms illustrate just how important food is in our culture, and there are no other group of idioms larger. These expressions permeate our lives just as the food we eat is an ingrained part of our shared heritage. They are just as much a part of food history as old recipes or food-related inventions and give us a fascinating glimpse into the language of food.
There are lots of food-related idioms covered here at Culinary Lore! If you need to learn more about idioms in general, see what is an idiom, at Idioms.Online.
Why Do We Say ‘Take That With A Grain Of Salt?’
I am an expert on everything in the culinary world. You may want to take that with a grain of salt, because, if you believe it, I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona you may like. In the previous sentence, you may understand the allusion in latter idiom without explanation. Arizona does not border […]
Origin Of ‘Hot Potato’ Expression
Meaning of Hot Potato When we say something is a hot potato, we are referring to something that is controversial, awkward, embarrassing, difficult, or unpleasant to deal with and which people want to avoid. We often refer, as well, to a ‘political hot potato.’ Either term is in most often used in reference to a […]
Origin Of ‘Kill The Fatted Calf’ Expression
To kill the fatted calf is to prepare a huge celebratory feast, especially to welcome someone. It means to have a big party with lots of food and drink. The American Heritage Dictionary Of Idioms defines it as “to prepare for a joyful occasion or a warm welcome.” An example would be a long lost beloved relative coming […]
Origin of ‘Egg on Your Face’ Expression
Have you ever had egg on your face? Possibly, after eating eggs. But someone having egg on their face is also an idiomatic expression meaning to look foolish after having made some mistake. The expression is figurative in that the person doesn’t really have egg on their face. But, does the expression come from having […]
‘There’s No Such Thing As a Free Lunch’ Origin
What Does ‘There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch’ Mean? When we say ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch,’ we mean to express that there are few things in life that are truly given to us at no cost or free. There are usually strings or at least expectations attached. The cost of […]