eat like a horse
Meaning
To eat a very large amount of food; to have a big appetite.
Origin
A simile comparing a person’s appetite to that of a horse, an animal associated with consuming large amounts of feed; recorded in English from the 19th century.
Notes
Casual and mildly humorous; emphasizes a huge appetite and can imply surprise or admiration. Can sound rude or body-focused if said about someone directly, so use with care.
Examples
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After the marathon, I ate like a horse and still felt hungry.
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My teenage brother eats like a horse, so the fridge is never full for long.
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When I’m stressed, I eat like a horse even if I’m not really hungry.
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He’s thin, but he can eat like a horse at dinner.
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We brought extra snacks because the kids eat like a horse on road trips.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Pattern: “eat/ate/will eat like a horse.” The “like a horse” part is fixed; you can add adverbs (e.g., “really”). Usually intransitive or with an object (eat pizza like a horse).
Synonyms
- have a big appetite
- eat a lot
- eat up a storm
- eat like there’s no tomorrow
Antonyms
- eat like a bird
- have a small appetite
- pick at food