Eat like a horse

Meaning

The idiom "eat like a horse" means to eat large amounts of food very quickly, often without stopping or savoring it. It can also imply a lack of control over one's eating habits.

Usage

• After finishing his dinner, John always eats like a horse and heads straight for dessert.
• As a professional athlete, she has to eat like a horse to keep up with her demanding training schedule.
• The tour guide was so hungry that he started eating like a horse as soon as they arrived at the restaurant.
• When I was younger, I used to eat like a horse and not pay attention to what I was putting in my body.
• As a busy entrepreneur, Sarah has no time for meals, so she eats like a horse all day long.

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the 20th century. It may have been influenced by the idea of athletes or workers who need to consume large amounts of food to keep up with their physical demands. Over time, the idiom has become a common expression to describe someone who eats quickly and without much control.

Synonyms in English

• Gobble down
• Scarf down
• Devour
• Consume
• Snarf up

Synonyms in other languages

• French - Consommer
• German - Verzehren
• Spanish - Comer con rapidez
• Italian - Mangiare a fretta
• Japanese - 飲みすぎる (nomisugiru)

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• within earshot

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