In this lesson, you will learn 16 slang words and phrases related to food and drink.
feel peckish
= to feel a little bit hungry.
= you don’t want to eat a big meal but you want to eat something.
“peckish” comes from the verb “peck“
Birds peck at food when they eat!
Example at 11am at work:
John is eating an apple because he is feeling peckish.
starving
“starving” is an adjective.
Meaning: Very hungry.
“Let’s go for lunch. I’m starving!”
ravenous
“ravenous” is an adjective.
Meaning: Very hungry.
“When will dinner be ready? I’m ravenous.”
Here is a funny English expression when we are very hungry:
“I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!”
brekky
“brekky” is a noun.
Meaning: breakfast
Clare has cereal for brekky every morning.
I had bacon and eggs for brekky.
brunch
“brunch” is a noun.
“brunch” is the combination of two words:
breakfast + lunch
brunch is a meal that we eat in the late morning.
brunch is a meal that replaces breakfast and lunch.
We often eat brunch at the weekend because we get up later.
Mark and Jane eat brunch together every Sunday morning.
sarnie
“sarnie” is a noun.
Meaning: sandwich
Jane: What did you have for lunch?
Mark: I had a chicken sarnie.
scoff
“scoff” is a verb.
Meaning: eat something quickly because you are hungry.
The dog is scoffing the hamburger.
Sarah is scoffing the doughnuts.
pig out on something
Meaning: Eat a lot of something. Eat something greedily.
Clare is pigging out on the biscuits.
have a sweet tooth
If someone has a sweet tooth, the person likes eating sweet foods (sweets, chocolate and desserts).
Jane eats three chocolate cakes every day. She has a sweet tooth.
doggy bag
“doggy bag” is a noun.
Meaning: If you do not finish your meal in a restaurant, they give you the leftovers in a doggy bag.
This is very common in the USA.
This is not common in the UK.
Mark: Could we have 2 doggy bags for the leftovers please?
Waiter: Yes of course.
brew
“brew” is a noun.
Meaning: cup of tea.
Mark: Let’s have a brew before the meeting starts.
John: Good idea!
Sarah: Would you like a brew?
Clare: Yes please.
booze
“booze” is an uncountable noun.
Meaning: alcohol
Let’s buy some booze for the party.
Jane: Do you want a beer?
Mark: No thanks. I’ve given up booze.
drunk
“drunk” is an adjective.
Meaning: If you drink too much alcohol, you will be drunk.
Here are some more adjectives that mean “drunk“:
wasted
hammered
legless
shit-faced (rude!)
Video lesson about English slang:
