iːt laɪk ə bɜrd
- Literally:
- To eat as much as a bird does
What does "eat like a bird" mean?
- To eat very little
- To have a small appetite
Examples
- She eats like a bird—just a salad for lunch.
- I'm worried about him; he's been eating like a bird.
- Don't eat like a bird—have some more food!
Origin
Based on the misconception that birds eat very little. Actually, birds eat about half their body weight daily, but they eat small portions at a time. The idiom focuses on the small portion appearance.
How to use it
Often used with concern about someone's health or as observation about eating habits. Can be neutral or slightly negative.
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- hold your horses
To wait and be patient
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "eat like a bird" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.