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This week's topic: More delicious idioms

February 12 - 17, 1996

(c)1996 by Nicholas E. Miller

**************************************** Vol. 1 No. 06 ***

As we mentioned last week, in English we sometimes use food related words in various idioms. A few more interesting ones are below.

busy as a bee hive a very busy place with a lot of activity. Our office has been busy as a bee hive since we advertised on the WWW.
beef cake a sexy man, usually with many muscles. Woman to woman friend in a bar: 'Wow, check out that beef cake.'
cheese cake a sexy woman, or a picture of one. Woman to man: 'Don't you know cheese cake posters degrade women.'1
candy striper a volunteer in a hospital, usu. young. Nurse to another nurse: 'Can you see if the candy striper will take the drinks around on the ward today.'
piggy2greedy.Don't be a piggy, let your brother have some potatoes, too!
piggy back2 on the shoulders or back.Child2 to Father: 'Give me a piggy back ride, Daddy.' Also, the Space Shuttle is 'piggy backed' on a rocket, medicine is piggy backed to an IV, etc.
piggy bank2 a small bank.I had to break my piggy bank because there was a sale at the new department store yesterday.
porker a heavy set person (VERY RUDE !)3.Hey! Check out the porker that just walked in. He must weigh 100 kilos (250 pounds).

1 Ladies, but beef cake it OK?

2 Often used by children.

3 Nice students probably won't use this word. While it is not 'bad' in itself, it is hurtful to the person it is said to.

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