Idioms for Cooking: 7 Best Phrases for Culinary

 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 seven idioms related to cooking, their meanings, and examples to spice up your cooking conversation. 

Also Read: Understanding Idioms: Examples and Meanings

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.

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.