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Food & eating

The English natives actually use around food — booking a table, ordering, reacting to a meal, and talking about how you eat. Grouped by the moment you'd say it.

15 situations38 phrases
Booking a table & arrivingB1

Getting a table and deciding where to go.

make a reservationeat outfully booked
Ordering & choosingB1

Working through the menu and picking a dish.

wide choicereasonable pricego for
The meal & payingB1

Talking about the food, then settling up.

strong coffeego offpay the bill
Eating well & dietB1–B2

Talking about habits, health and cutting back.

cut down onput onbalanced diet
Cooking and serving at homeB1

Throwing a meal together in the kitchen and dishing it up for everyone.

go aroundmix upcut the cake
Grabbing a quick biteB1

Sorting out something quick to eat when you can't be bothered to cook.

fast foodhave a meal
Ordering a takeawayB1

Deciding what you fancy and getting food delivered to the door on a lazy night in.

fancyorder in
Tucking into a home mealB1–B2

Sitting down with family or friends, being told to help yourself and start eating.

tuck ingo down wellhelp yourself
A quick bite at workB1–B2

Squeezing a fast lunch into a busy workday — popping out and eating on the go.

pop outwolf downgrab a bite
Rustling up something quickB1–B2

Making a fast meal at home from whatever's in the fridge — or reheating last night's leftovers.

whip upwarm upknock up
Sorting the bill and drinksB1–B2

The end of a meal out, or a round at the pub — working out who pays for what.

split the billget a round in
Is this still okay to eat?B1–B2

Checking the fridge, sniffing the milk, and deciding whether something's still good.

be offsave roompick at
Feeling peckish between mealsB1–B2

That mid-afternoon moment when you're not quite hungry but fancy a little something. Learn how Brits talk about being a bit peckish, grazing through the day and nipping out for a snack.

peckishnip outgraze
Too full after a big mealB1

The end of a proper feast, when you couldn't possibly eat another bite. Learn the natural British ways to say you're stuffed, to talk about finishing off the food and admitting you've got a sweet tooth anyway.

stuffedsweet toothpolish off
Sharing the cost and the cleanupB1–B2

The practical end of eating together — who pays for what and who clears up. Learn how to suggest going halves, knock back a quick drink and sort out the washing-up without any fuss.

go halvesdo the washing-upknock back

Browse all 38 food & eating phrases by level →

Multiple-meaning phrases in food & eating

Same phrase, different jobs — compare the meanings before you use them.

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