Hunger isn’t just an empty stomach—it’s a story your body tells. The growling belly, the searching eyes, the rush toward food. Idioms for hungry bring that story to life.
They make your words feel flavorful, turning simple cravings into vivid scenes—funny, dramatic, even a little over the top. When you use the right idiom, you’re not just saying “I’m hungry”—you’re letting others feel it too.
Best Idioms for Hungry
1. Famished
Meaning: Extremely hungry, to the point of exhaustion or desperation.
In a Sentence:
After hiking all day, I was absolutely famished.
He looked famished and devoured his food instantly.
Other Ways to Say: Starved, Worn out with hunger, Empty
2. Starving
Meaning: Very hungry and in urgent need of food.
In a Sentence:
I’m starving—let’s grab something to eat now!
She came home starving after soccer practice.
Other Ways to Say: Ravenous, Famished, Hungry as a wolf
3. Ravenous
Meaning: Intensely hungry with a strong desire to eat immediately.
In a Sentence:
She was ravenous after skipping breakfast.
They came in ravenous from the cold.
Other Ways to Say: Starving, Famished, Craving food
4. I could eat a horse
Meaning: Extremely hungry and capable of eating a large amount.
In a Sentence:
After that workout, I could eat a horse.
He was so tired and hungry he said he could eat a horse.
Other Ways to Say: Eat a mountain, Devour anything, Starving like crazy
5. Peckish
Meaning: Slightly hungry, enough to want a small snack.
In a Sentence:
I’m feeling a bit peckish—do you have any crackers?
She was peckish, so she grabbed a granola bar.
Other Ways to Say: Snackish, Lightly hungry, Mildly craving
6. Hungry as a bear
Meaning: Extremely hungry, especially after physical exertion.
In a Sentence:
He’s hungry as a bear after that long hike.
She’s hungry as a bear when she skips lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Ravenous, Famished, Starving
7. Starved
Meaning: Feeling weak or desperate from prolonged hunger.
In a Sentence:
I’m completely starved—when’s dinner?
They looked starved after the long trip.
Other Ways to Say: Deprived, Famished, Hollow
8. I could eat an ox
Meaning: Exaggerated way of saying one is extremely hungry.
In a Sentence:
After moving all day, I could eat an ox!
He joked that he could eat an ox after the road trip.
Other Ways to Say: Eat anything, Beyond hungry, Famished
9. My stomach is growling
Meaning: Audible sound from the stomach due to hunger.
In a Sentence:
My stomach is growling—I haven’t eaten all day.
During the meeting, my stomach kept growling.
Other Ways to Say: Rumbly tummy, Empty belly, Growling gut
10. I could murder (a food)
Meaning: Really crave a specific food, often said humorously.
In a Sentence:
I could murder a cheeseburger right now.
He said he could murder a pizza after class.
Other Ways to Say: Crave badly, Die for it, Need it now
11. Hungry for (something)
Meaning: Deeply desiring or striving for something (not just food).
In a Sentence:
She’s hungry for success in her career.
He’s always hungry for new challenges.
Other Ways to Say: Craving, Eager for, Driven by desire
12. Hunger after
Meaning: To strongly crave or yearn for something.
In a Sentence:
He hungers after fame and fortune.
She hungers after recognition for her work.
Other Ways to Say: Long for, Thirst for, Deeply desire
13. Stay hungry
Meaning: Keep your ambition and drive alive.
In a Sentence:
Stay hungry and never stop pushing forward.
Even after success, he stays hungry for more.
Other Ways to Say: Stay motivated, Keep striving, Don’t settle
14. Food for thought
Meaning: An idea that gives you something to think deeply about.
In a Sentence:
Her speech offered real food for thought.
That article gave me some serious food for thought.
Other Ways to Say: Thought-provoking idea, Mental snack, Stimulating insight
15. I fancy
Meaning: To want or crave a specific food (or occasionally, something else).
In a Sentence:
I fancy some ice cream tonight.
Do you fancy a slice of cake?
Other Ways to Say: Crave, Want, Feel like
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Funny People and Humor
16. I’m hungry
Meaning: Expressing a need for food—or metaphorically, a craving for something.
In a Sentence:
I’m hungry for some adventure this weekend.
She’s hungry for knowledge and always reading.
Other Ways to Say: Eager, Craving, Needing
17. Curb your appetite
Meaning: To reduce or control a desire (usually for food).
In a Sentence:
Try to curb your appetite for sweets this week.
She’s learning to curb her appetite for fast food.
Other Ways to Say: Restrain desire, Hold back, Suppress craving
18. I could eat an…
Meaning: Expressing intense hunger, usually left open or exaggerated.
In a Sentence:
I could eat an entire buffet right now!
He said he could eat an elephant after that hike.
Other Ways to Say: So hungry I could eat anything, Starving big-time, Need massive food
19. Thirsty for more
Meaning: Wanting to experience more, often after a taste of something exciting.
In a Sentence:
She’s thirsty for more travel adventures.
The audience was thirsty for more after the first act.
Other Ways to Say: Eager, Craving more, Ready for the next
20. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more than one can handle.
In a Sentence:
He bit off more than he could chew with that project.
She’s overwhelmed—bit off more than she could chew again.
Other Ways to Say: Overcommitted, Took on too much, Overloaded
21. Eat like a pig
Meaning: To eat messily or in large quantities, often without manners.
In a Sentence:
He eats like a pig when he’s starving.
She was so hungry, she ate like a pig at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Devour food, Gobble up, Eat without restraint
22. Wolf down
Meaning: To eat something quickly and eagerly.
In a Sentence:
She wolfed down her lunch in five minutes.
He came home and wolfed down two sandwiches.
Other Ways to Say: Scarf down, Gulp, Devour rapidly
23. Have a hollow leg
Meaning: To eat a lot without seeming to get full.
In a Sentence:
He must have a hollow leg—he ate everything in sight.
She keeps eating like she’s got a hollow leg.
Other Ways to Say: Endless appetite, Bottomless pit, Never full
24. Eat your heart out
Meaning: To express envy or longing, often in a humorous or playful way.
In a Sentence:
Eat your heart out—this dessert is mine!
She posted her vacation pics and said, “Eat your heart out, office folks!”
Other Ways to Say: Be jealous, Long for this, Crave with envy
25. Licking your lips
Meaning: To eagerly anticipate something, especially food or opportunity.
In a Sentence:
He’s licking his lips just thinking about the barbecue.
The kids were licking their lips before dessert was served.
Other Ways to Say: Excited, Anticipating, Eagerly waiting
26. Have eyes bigger than your stomach
Meaning: To take more food than you can actually eat.
In a Sentence:
She ordered way too much—eyes bigger than her stomach!
At the buffet, his eyes were bigger than his stomach.
Other Ways to Say: Overestimated hunger, Took too much, Bit off more than needed
27. Champing at the bit
Meaning: Being overly eager or impatient for something (often food).
In a Sentence:
He was champing at the bit for dinner to start.
She’s champing at the bit to try the new dessert.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t wait, Itching to start, Overexcited
28. Pig out
Meaning: To eat a large amount of food, usually indulgently.
In a Sentence:
We pigged out on pizza and fries last night.
She pigged out during the beach picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Overeat, Feast, Binge
29. Scarf down
Meaning: To eat food very quickly and greedily.
In a Sentence:
He scarfed down his sandwich in less than two minutes.
She scarfed down a slice of cake before anyone noticed.
Other Ways to Say: Wolf down, Devour, Gobble up
30. Grub’s up
Meaning: Food is ready (informal and cheerful expression).
In a Sentence:
Grub’s up! Come grab your plates.
As soon as she yelled “Grub’s up,” everyone ran to the table.
Other Ways to Say: Food’s ready, Let’s eat, Chow time
31. Running on empty
Meaning: Feeling exhausted or depleted, either physically or emotionally, often due to hunger.
In a Sentence:
I’m running on empty; I need a snack before I faint.
After a long day with no lunch, she was running on empty.
Other Ways to Say: Drained, Out of energy, Worn out
32. Hungry as a wolf
Meaning: Extremely hungry and ready to eat anything.
In a Sentence:
She’s hungry as a wolf after soccer practice.
They were hungry as wolves after the long hike.
Other Ways to Say: Famished, Starving, Ravenous
33. Skin and bones
Meaning: Very thin, often from lack of proper nutrition.
In a Sentence:
After weeks of poor meals, he’s down to skin and bones.
She looked like skin and bones after her illness.
Other Ways to Say: Emaciated, Underfed, Frail
34. Starving artist
Meaning: A creative person who struggles financially and often lives with little.
In a Sentence:
She’s a true starving artist—painting by day, waiting tables by night.
He lived like a starving artist to pursue his dreams.
Other Ways to Say: Broke creator, Dream chaser, Passion over profit
35. Bare cupboard
Meaning: Having little or no food or resources available.
In a Sentence:
The fridge was a bare cupboard after the storm.
We opened the pantry to find a bare cupboard.
Other Ways to Say: Nothing left, Out of stock, Empty shelves
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36. Belly up
Meaning: Failed or gone badly, often humorously related to food situations.
In a Sentence:
The picnic went belly up—no food, no fun.
My diet plans went belly up at the buffet.
Other Ways to Say: Flopped, Fell apart, Didn’t work out
37. Scraping the barrel
Meaning: Using the last, often least desirable, resources or options.
In a Sentence:
We’re scraping the barrel for snacks now.
She was scraping the barrel trying to make dinner from leftovers.
Other Ways to Say: Down to the last, Using scraps, Running low
38. On your last legs
Meaning: Feeling extremely tired or weak—often from hunger or overexertion.
In a Sentence:
I’m on my last legs—I need food now.
After working all day, she was on her last legs.
Other Ways to Say: Barely standing, Worn down, About to collapse
39. Hunger pangs
Meaning: Sharp stomach pains caused by hunger.
In a Sentence:
Hunger pangs hit me halfway through the meeting.
He clutched his stomach as hunger pangs kicked in.
Other Ways to Say: Stomach growls, Cramping from hunger, Gnawing emptiness
40. Nothing to write home about
Meaning: Unimpressive, especially when describing a meal or food.
In a Sentence:
That sandwich was nothing to write home about.
The dinner was okay but nothing to write home about.
Other Ways to Say: Average, Forgettable, Meh
41. Have a taste for
Meaning: To have a liking or craving for something specific.
In a Sentence:
She has a taste for spicy food and exotic dishes.
He’s always had a taste for adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Crave, Enjoy, Desire
42. Crave the limelight
Meaning: To strongly desire attention or public recognition.
In a Sentence:
He always craves the limelight at every event.
She’s not shy—she craves the limelight like a star.
Other Ways to Say: Seek fame, Hunger for attention, Want the spotlight
43. Hankering for
Meaning: A strong, persistent craving for something.
In a Sentence:
I’m hankering for some chocolate right now.
He had a hankering for fresh seafood after the trip.
Other Ways to Say: Craving, Longing, Yearning
44. Itchy feet
Meaning: A restless desire to travel or change location.
In a Sentence:
She’s got itchy feet again—ready for her next adventure.
He gets itchy feet if he stays in one place too long.
Other Ways to Say: Wanderlust, Travel craving, Need for change
45. Burning desire
Meaning: An intense and passionate longing for something.
In a Sentence:
He has a burning desire to become a great chef.
That burning desire drove her to open her own café.
Other Ways to Say: Deep longing, Fierce ambition, Inner fire
46. Eat it up
Meaning: To eagerly accept or enjoy something (often information or praise).
In a Sentence:
The crowd ate up every word of her cooking tips.
He told the story, and they ate it up.
Other Ways to Say: Loved it, Soaked it in, Took it all in
47. Hunger for knowledge
Meaning: A strong desire to learn or understand more.
In a Sentence:
She has a constant hunger for knowledge about food science.
His hunger for knowledge keeps him reading every night.
Other Ways to Say: Curiosity, Love of learning, Intellectual craving
48. Salivating over
Meaning: Eagerly anticipating something, especially food or something desirable.
In a Sentence:
He’s salivating over that steak on the grill.
They were salivating over the dessert menu.
Other Ways to Say: Craving, Eager for, Tempted by
49. Have an appetite for
Meaning: To desire or enjoy something strongly, not limited to food.
In a Sentence:
She has an appetite for adventure and new flavors.
He’s always had an appetite for risk.
Other Ways to Say: Keen on, Hungry for, Drawn to
50. Starving for attention
Meaning: Desperately wanting acknowledgment or affection.
In a Sentence:
He’s starving for attention and keeps interrupting.
That social media post screams “starving for attention.”
Other Ways to Say: Craving validation, Needing approval, Desperate for notice
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Hungry
- After skipping both breakfast and lunch, I was ______________ by dinner time.
- The toddler was ______________, devouring her snacks like a tiny tornado.
- I’m just a little ______________, maybe a granola bar will do.
- He looked at the buffet and said, “I could ______________ right now!”
- She’s ______________ success—nothing can distract her from her goals.
- My stomach was ______________ so loudly, the whole room heard it.
- They ______________ that pizza in five minutes flat.
- I have a serious ______________ chocolate craving this week.
- After the long hike, we were all ______________ wolves.
- We’ve been working all day and haven’t eaten—we’re ______________!
Answer
- famished
- eats like a pig
- peckish
- eat a horse
- hungry for
- growling
- wolfed down
- hankering for
- hungry as
- starving
Conclusion
Hunger doesn’t whisper—it roars, it growls, it paints wild pictures in our minds. Idioms for hungry don’t just describe the feeling—they dramatize it, exaggerate it, and make it fun. You’re not just “hungry,” you could eat a horse, wolf down a meal, or be starving for attention. Each phrase adds flavor, and each image tells a tale. So next time your stomach speaks, let your words feast too.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
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