have eyes bigger than one's stomach
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To have asked for or taken more of something (especially food) than one is actually capable of handling (or eating).
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Common questions
What does “have eyes bigger than one's stomach” mean?
To have asked for or taken more of something (especially food) than one is actually capable of handling (or eating).
Is “have eyes bigger than one's stomach” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.