Language, much like a recipe, is a blend of various ingredients. Cooking idioms and expressions, in particular, add a unique flavour to our conversations, infusing them with vivid imagery and cultural richness. These idioms not only reflect our universal experience with food but also provide insights into the values and practices of different societies. Let’s explore some common cooking idioms and their meanings, origins, and usage.
1. Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret or share confidential information.
Origin: In ancient Greece, voting was done by placing beans in a container. If someone accidentally knocked over the container, the secret votes were exposed—hence, “spilling the beans.”
Example:
"I didn't mean to spill the beans. I didn't know he didn't know"
2. Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something very easy or simple.
Origin: The phrase likely originated from the idea that cutting a cake is an effortless task. Who doesn’t love an easy slice of cake?
Example:
"That exam was a piece of cake."
3. Bring Home the Bacon
Meaning: "Bringing home the bacon" means to earn money for the family.
Origin: The phrase’s origin is debated, but one theory suggests it comes from a 12th-century tradition in the English town of Dunmow, where couples who could prove their marital devotion received a side of bacon.
Example:
"He's been working extra hours to bring home the bacon."
4. In a Pickle
Meaning: In a difficult or troublesome situation.
Origin: In the past, pickling was a time-consuming process. Being “in a pickle” meant you were stuck in a situation that required patience and resourcefulness.
Example:
"I got myself in a right pickle! I got all the treads tangled"
5. Take It with a Grain of Salt
Meaning: When you "take something with a grain of salt," you view it with scepticism.
Origin: The phrase is believed to come from Pliny the Elder's 'Natural History,' where he mentioned an antidote to poison that included a grain of salt, implying that a little scepticism can protect you from being poisoned by falsehood.
Example:
"I heard the news, but I’ll take it with a grain of salt until it’s confirmed."
6. Cool as a Cucumber
Meaning: Calm and composed, especially under pressure.
Origin: Cucumbers have a high water content, which keeps them cool even in hot weather. Thus, being “cool as a cucumber” implies maintaining composure.
Example:
"He stayed cool as a cucumber even when the presentation wouldn't load for the meeting"
7. Salt of the Earth
Meaning: A genuine, down-to-earth person.
Origin: Salt was historically valuable and essential for preserving food. Calling someone the “salt of the earth” means they are indispensable and reliable.
Example:
"They were such good people. They really were the salt of the earth."
8. Chew the Fat
Meaning: To "chew the fat" means to chat casually.
Origin: This idiom may stem from the days when sailors would chew on salt-hardened fat during long voyages, using it as a time to talk and share stories.
Example:
"We sat around the fire, chewing the fat late into the night."
9. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Meaning: This idiom means to risk everything on a single venture.
Origin: Its origin is straightforward: if all your eggs are in one basket and you drop it, you lose everything.
Example:
"Investing all your savings in one stock is like putting all your eggs in one basket."
10. Butter Someone Up
Meaning: To flatter or be excessively nice to gain favour.
Origin: In medieval times, butter was a luxury. People would literally butter up their guests to show hospitality and win their goodwill.
Example:
"He's always trying to butter up the boss."
11. Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To lament something that cannot be changed.
Origin: Once the milk is spilt, it’s impossible to put it back in the container. So, there’s no use crying about it—move on!
Example:
"I know you didn't mean to break my phone, so there's no use in crying over spilt milk now."
12. Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
Meaning: When too many people are involved, things can go wrong.
Origin: This proverb dates back to medieval kitchens, where too many cooks could indeed ruin a pot of broth.
Example:
"Leave and let me get on with this, you know too many cooks spoil the broth"
13. The Proof Is in the Pudding
Meaning: The real value or quality of something is evident through experience.
Origin: Originally, “proof” referred to testing the alcohol content in spirits. The phrase emphasises that results matter more than promises.
Example:
"It looks great but the proof is in the pudding. Does it work?"
Cooking idioms and expressions are not just about food; they enrich our language, making it more colourful and relatable. Each idiom carries a story, a piece of history, or a cultural practice that connects us to our past and to each other. Next time you use one of these expressions, savour the linguistic flavours and the stories they bring to your conversations.
Follow me on YouTube for more fun idioms that you can sprinkle into your conversations to sound more like a local.
Check your understanding
What do cooking idioms and expressions add to our conversations, according to the article?
Explain the origin of the idiom "Spill the Beans" as described in the article.
How does the idiom "Bring Home the Bacon" reflect cultural or historical practices?
What is the meaning of the idiom "In a Pickle," and how does its origin relate to its meaning?
Why is being "Cool as a Cucumber" associated with remaining calm, based on the explanation provided?
You can now listen to this article as a podcast just click here
If you find this practice useful please consider supporting the author from just £1 per month here
Vocabulary
Idiom: A phrase or expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words; often culturally specific and can be difficult to understand for non-native speakers.
Universal: Something that is common to all people or things in the world or in a particular group.
Confidential: Intended to be kept secret; not to be shared with others.
Scepticism: An attitude of doubting the truth of something; a critical questioning or doubt.
Composure: The state of being calm and in control of oneself.
Indispensable: Absolutely necessary; essential and not to be omitted.
Casually: In a relaxed and informal way; without serious intention.
Flatter: To praise someone, often excessively, in a way that is not sincere, usually to gain some advantage.
Lament: To express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something.
Evident: Clear to the sight or mind; obvious or easily perceived.
Proverb: A short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice.