As online ESL teachers, we all fall into the habit of starting our classes with…

12 Tasty Food Idioms to Teach Your ESL Students
Food idioms are a fun and relatable way to teach English learners common expressions used in everyday conversation. Since everyone eats, these idioms are easy to remember and can spark great discussion.
Here are 12 popular food-related idioms that you can introduce to your ESL students, complete with definitions and examples. Have your students come up with their own sentences and give bonus points or praise to students who incorporate these idioms in their speaking or writing over the next week!
1) Piece of cake

Meaning: Something very easy to do
Example: That exam was a piece of cake! I finished with 20 minutes to spare.
2) Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret
Example: He accidentally spilled the beans about her surprise party. Oops.
3) Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm and relaxed, even in a difficult situation
Example: She was as cool as a cucumber during the interrogation.
4) In a pickle
Meaning: In a difficult or tough situation
Example: I’m at the airport and I forgot my passport. Now I’m in a real pickle.
5) Apple of someone’s eye
Meaning: Someone who is very special and loved
Example: His daughter is the apple of his eye.
6) Butter someone up

Meaning: To flatter someone to gain favor
Example: He’s trying to butter up the boss so he can get a raise.
7) Take something with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t take it too seriously or literally
Example: She tends to exaggerate when she shares a story, so take it with a grain of salt.
8) Icing on the cake
Meaning: Something that makes a good situation even better
Example: The sunny weather was the icing on the cake during our vacation.
9) Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed
Example: Yes, we lost the game, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk.
10) Hot potato
Meaning: A controversial or difficult issue that people don’t want to deal with
Example: The topic of immigration is currently a political hot potato.
11) Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support a family
Example: She works three jobs to bring home the bacon.
12) Have a lot on your plate

Meaning: To be very busy or have many responsibilities
Example: I’d love to help you with that project, but I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.
We hope you enjoy teaching these idioms with your ESL students! What other food idioms do you know? Share them in the comments below!