29+ Idioms for Cooking To Use in English Writing

Idioms for Cooking: It is no wonder that there are so many idioms for cooking and culinary. After all, cooking is an art that involves creativity and skill. Whereas idioms are exactly that creativity we look for to use in everyday conversations and add colour and depth to our language. Therefore, in this blog post, we will explore several idioms related to cooking, their meanings, and examples to spice up your cooking conversation. 

On a Plate

The idiom “on a plate” means to have something given to you very easily or without having to work for it. Basically, it implies something which is easily handed over without any hard work.

For example: He inherited his father’s successful business empire on a plate, so he never really had to struggle to achieve financial success.

Curry Favour

The idiom “curry favor” means to try to gain someone’s favor through flattery or other means, often with the intention of gaining some benefit.

Example: She’s always bringing gifts to the boss in an attempt to curry favor and get promoted.

Also Read: Understanding Idioms: Examples and Meanings

Boils Down To

The idiom “boils down to” means to be summarized or simplified to the most important elements.

Example: The argument between the two sides ultimately boils down to a disagreement over money and control.

Boil Over

The idiom “boil over” refers to a situation where emotions or tensions become so intense that they cannot be controlled, often resulting in an outburst of emotions.

Example: Sarah finally boiled over and confronted her boss about the unfair workload.

Spice Things Up

This idiom means to add excitement or interest to something. It originated from the idea of adding spices to food to enhance its flavour. 

Example: Let’s spice things up by trying a new recipe tonight!

In a Pickle

In a pickle is an idiom that means to be in a difficult situation. It holds its origin in the practice of pickling vegetables, which takes time and effort. 

Example: I’m in a pickle because I promised to cook dinner for ten people tonight, but I only have enough ingredients for four.

Cook the Books

This idiom means to manipulate financial records for personal gain. The phrase ‘Cook the books‘ originated from the practice of using two sets of accounting books, one for the tax authorities and one for personal use. 

Example: The CEO was caught cooking the books to inflate the company’s profits.

Also Read: 10 Best Idioms for Love to Express Your Heart

Eat Humble Pie

This idiom means to admit one’s mistakes and apologize. In popular culture, it is a common belief that the origin of Eating humble pie is from serving humble pie, a dish made with animal innards, to lower-class people who couldn’t afford meat. 

Example: After realising his mistake, he had to eat humble pie and apologise to his colleagues.

Cut Corners

This idiomatic phrase means to do something quickly and cheaply without following proper procedures. It originated from the practice of cutting corners while cooking to save time and effort. 

Example: We can’t cut corners when it comes to food safety.

Simmer Down

The idiom ‘Simmer down’ means to calm down or relax. In other words, it refers to simmering food on low heat to cook it slowly and evenly. 

Example: You need to simmer down and stop getting so worked up over small things.

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS

Have Bigger Fish to Fry

When you say you have bigger fish to fry, it means you have more important things to do. To elaborate, it practice of cooking fish, where larger fish required more attention and effort to cook properly. 

Example: I can’t worry about this small issue right now; I have bigger fish to fry.

List of Other Idioms for Cooking with Meaning

Some other idioms for cooking are listed below for your easy reference:

Idiom	Meaning
A piece of cake	Something very easy to do
Bite off more than you can chew	To take on more than you can handle
Butter someone up	To flatter someone in order to get something from them
Cook the books	To falsify financial records
Cut corners	To do something in a less thorough or careful way in order to save time or money
Easy as pie	Something very easy to do (similar to ‘a piece of cake’)
Egg someone on	To encourage someone to do something, especially something foolish
Full plate	To have a lot to deal with
Have your cake and eat it too	To want to enjoy the benefits of something without accepting the drawbacks
In a pickle	To be in a difficult situation
On a roll	To be successful or enjoying a period of good luck
Over easy / Over medium / Over hard	How you like your eggs cooked (sunny side up, slightly runny yolk, fully cooked yolk)
Spice things up	To make something more exciting or interesting
Spill the beans	To reveal a secret
Stir the pot	To deliberately cause trouble or make a situation more tense
Too many cooks spoil the broth	When too many people try to give advice or help with a task, it can make things worse
Whip something up	To quickly prepare a meal

FAQs

These idioms for cooking add colour and depth to our language. They are used in everyday conversations and reflect the rich history and culture of cooking. Hopefully, you have understood their meaning to appreciate the beauty of language even more. To read more about idioms you can check our page at Leverage Edu.