Grocery Shopping phrases and words in English
Everyday food fills English with colourful idioms — "spill the beans," stay "cool as a cucumber," get yourself "in a pickle," or call the boss "the big cheese." Learn the aisle and you learn the language.
13 phrases · meanings & example sentences
“Spill the beans”
To reveal a secret, often accidentally or earlier than intended. One theory traces it to ancient voting with beans, which spilled if the jar was knocked over. Light and playful — used when gossip or a surprise gets out.
- Come on, spill the beans — what did she say about the new job?
- He spilled the beans about the surprise party before we could stop him.
- Don't spill the beans yet; the announcement is on Friday.
“Cool as a cucumber”
Completely calm and relaxed, especially in a stressful or tense situation. Cucumbers stay cool inside even in heat, which inspired the image. Strong admiration for someone unflappable under pressure.
- The whole room was panicking, but she stayed cool as a cucumber.
- He took the penalty cool as a cucumber and scored.
- Even during the interview grilling, he was cool as a cucumber.
“In a pickle”
In a difficult or awkward situation that's hard to get out of. Vegetables left in pickling vinegar are stuck in a mess — much like the person. Slightly old-fashioned and charming, often softening how serious the trouble is.
- I'm in a bit of a pickle — I double-booked myself for Saturday.
- We were in a real pickle when the car broke down miles from town.
- Lending him money put me in a pickle when I needed it back.
“Bring home the bacon”
To earn money to support a household — or, more broadly, to achieve a successful result. Bacon has long symbolised reward and provision. Used proudly about the family earner, or any decisive winner.
- She works two jobs to bring home the bacon.
- The team needs someone who can bring home the bacon in big games.
- After months of pitching, he finally brought home the bacon with that deal.
“Go bananas”
To become wildly excited, angry, or crazy. Bananas have a long comic association with silliness and monkeys, which makes the phrase playful even when it means furious. Very informal and expressive.
- The crowd went bananas when the home team scored in the last minute.
- My dad went bananas when he saw the phone bill.
- The kids will go bananas when they see the puppy.
“The big cheese”
The most important or powerful person in a group or organisation — the boss. 'Cheese' here probably comes from the Urdu word 'chiz' (thing), reshaped into English. Often used with a touch of cheek.
- Look sharp — the big cheese is visiting the office today.
- She started in the mailroom and now she's the big cheese.
- You'll have to ask the big cheese; I can't approve that.
“Full of beans”
Full of energy, enthusiasm and high spirits. The phrase may come from horses fed beans for extra vigour. A cheerful way to describe someone lively, especially first thing in the morning.
- The kids were full of beans after their afternoon nap.
- She's always full of beans on a Monday — it's exhausting.
- A good night's sleep and I woke up full of beans.
“A bad apple”
One bad person who spoils or corrupts a whole group — from the saying that one rotten apple ruins the barrel. Used to single out a troublemaker while implying everyone else is fine.
- Most fans are great; it's just a few bad apples that cause trouble.
- One bad apple in the team can wreck the whole mood.
- Don't judge the company by one bad apple.
“Take it with a pinch of salt”
To not fully believe something — to treat it with healthy doubt. The idea is that a story is easier to 'swallow' with a little salt to flavour it. (Americans often say 'a grain of salt.') Great for rumours and bold claims.
- He exaggerates, so take his version with a pinch of salt.
- I'd take those online reviews with a pinch of salt.
- The forecast keeps changing — take it with a pinch of salt.
“The cream of the crop”
The very best of a group — the finest examples available. Cream rises to the top of milk, so it symbolises the highest quality. Used for people, products, schools, anything elite.
- These graduates are the cream of the crop — hire fast.
- Out of hundreds of entries, these three are the cream of the crop.
- The academy only takes the cream of the crop.
“Like a kid in a candy store”
Overjoyed and overexcited, unable to decide what to enjoy first — the way a child reacts surrounded by sweets. Used when someone is delighted by lots of appealing choices, from gadgets to a buffet.
- He was like a kid in a candy store at the electronics shop.
- Give her a craft fair and she's like a kid in a candy store.
- At the all-you-can-eat buffet, we were like kids in a candy store.
“Compare apples and oranges”
To compare two things that are too different to be measured against each other fairly. Both are fruit, but otherwise unalike — which is the point. A neat way to point out a flawed comparison.
- Judging a novel against a film is comparing apples and oranges.
- You can't compare the two players — it's apples and oranges.
- That's apples and oranges; the situations aren't remotely the same.
“Egg someone on”
To encourage someone to do something, usually something foolish or risky. The 'egg' here isn't the food — it's an old word meaning to urge or incite. A useful reminder that not every food idiom is about food.
- He'd never have jumped in if his mates hadn't egged him on.
- Stop egging her on; she'll actually do it.
- The crowd egged him on until he climbed onto the stage.
