Food & Drink

American slang and idioms related to food, dining, and beverages

Introduction

Food culture in America comes with its own vocabulary. From regional debates about "soda" versus "pop" to the universal concept of a "doggy bag", food slang reflects America's diverse culinary landscape.

This chapter explores American slang related to eating, drinking, and dining out — terms you'll encounter at restaurants, barbecues, and food trucks across the country.

Themes

All American Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (84)

• Doggy bag A container for taking home leftover food from a restaurant.
• Chow down To eat enthusiastically and heartily.
• Grub Food, especially hearty or basic food.
• The munchies An intense craving for snack food, especially late at night.
• Potluck A communal meal where each guest brings a dish to share.
• Takeout Food ordered at a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere, typically at home.
• Drive-thru A service window at a fast-food restaurant where you order and receive food w...
• Comfort food Food that provides emotional comfort, usually nostalgic, warm, and filling.
• Junk food Unhealthy processed food with low nutritional value, like chips, candy, and f...
• Foodie A person who is especially enthusiastic about food and enjoys trying new rest...
• Hole-in-the-wall A small, modest, unassuming restaurant that serves unexpectedly great food.
• Greasy spoon A cheap, no-frills diner or restaurant that serves basic, often greasy food.
• Happy hour A period, usually in the late afternoon, when bars and restaurants offer disc...
• BYOB Bring Your Own Bottle (or Beer/Booze) — a party or restaurant where you bring...
• Cookout An outdoor meal where food is cooked on a grill, similar to a barbecue.
• Brunch A late-morning meal combining breakfast and lunch, often a social event on we...
• Bottomless mimosas An unlimited-refill brunch drink deal, typically champagne mixed with orange ...
• Loaded Topped or filled with lots of extras and toppings.
• Supersize To upgrade to the largest available portion size, especially at fast-food res...
• All-you-can-eat A restaurant or buffet where you pay a fixed price and eat as much as you want.
• Brown bag it To bring your own lunch to work or school, typically in a brown paper bag.
• Food truck A mobile restaurant that serves food from a large vehicle, usually parked on ...
• Farm-to-table A food movement emphasizing locally sourced ingredients directly from farms t...
• Grab a bite Casual slang for getting a quick, informal meal, often on the go.
• Pig out To eat a large amount of food, especially in a greedy or indulgent way.
• Scarf down To eat food very quickly, almost without chewing.
• Shotgun a beer To puncture a hole in the side of a beer can and drink the entire thing rapidly.
• A cold one Casual slang for a cold beer, commonly used in relaxed social settings.
• Craft beer Beer made by small, independent breweries with emphasis on quality and unique...
• Moonshine Illegally distilled, homemade liquor, traditionally made in rural America.
• Booze Informal term for alcoholic drinks in general, used in casual conversation.
• Buzzed Slightly intoxicated from alcohol — between sober and drunk.
• Hammered Very drunk, heavily intoxicated.
• Designated driver The person in a group who stays sober to drive everyone home safely.
• Last call The final announcement at a bar that drink orders are about to close.
• On the rocks A drink served over ice cubes.
• Neat A spirit served at room temperature without ice, water, or any mixer.
• Chaser A milder drink consumed immediately after a shot of hard liquor.
• Nuke it To heat food in the microwave.
• Whip up To quickly prepare a meal or dish.
• Midnight snack A snack eaten late at night, often impulsively.
• Sweet tooth A strong craving or love for sweet foods and desserts.
• Food baby A bloated, protruding stomach from eating too much.
• Stuffed Extremely full from eating too much food.
• Hit the spot To be exactly what you wanted or needed, perfectly satisfying a craving.
• Soul food Traditional African American cuisine from the Southern United States.
• Deep-fried Food cooked by being fully submerged in hot oil.
• Slider A small hamburger, typically served as an appetizer or in multiples.
• Wings Chicken wing pieces served as a popular American appetizer or snack, usually ...
• Sides Side dishes that accompany a main course at a restaurant.
• Sloppy Joe A messy sandwich of seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce served on a hamburge...
• Sub A long sandwich made on a roll, also called a submarine sandwich.
• Hoagie A large submarine sandwich — the Philadelphia term for a sub.
• Brewskis Beers — a playful, informal way to refer to beer.
• Kegger A party where beer is served from a keg.
• Leftovers Food remaining from a previous meal, saved to be eaten later.
• Carb-loading Eating large amounts of carbohydrates, originally before athletic events, now...
• Pumpkin spice A flavor combination (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice) associated with Ame...
• Cold brew Coffee made by steeping grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours, resulting in a...
• On the house Free of charge — paid for by the establishment.
• Go Dutch To split a bill so that each person pays for their own meal or drinks.
• Dine and dash To leave a restaurant without paying the bill.
• Run a tab To keep a running bill at a bar, paying for all drinks at the end.
• Eats Food, or places to eat — used as a casual noun.
• Chow Food or a meal — casual slang for something to eat.
• Grits A Southern American porridge made from ground corn, served as a breakfast sta...
• Mac and cheese Macaroni pasta with a creamy cheese sauce — an iconic American comfort food.
• S'mores A campfire treat made by sandwiching melted marshmallow and chocolate between...
• PB&J A peanut butter and jelly sandwich — the most iconic American sandwich.
• BLT A bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich — a classic American deli staple.
• Food court A shared dining area in a shopping mall with multiple fast-food vendors.
• Clean eating A dietary approach focused on eating whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding ju...
• Spread A large, impressive display of food laid out for a gathering.
• Top shelf The highest quality liquor at a bar, stored on the top shelf behind the bar.
• Well drink A cocktail made with the cheapest house liquor stored in the bartender's well.
• Watered down Diluted, weakened — literally or figuratively.
• Finger food Small food items designed to be eaten with your hands, without utensils.
• To go Food or drink ordered for consumption away from the restaurant.
• Free refill An unlimited top-up of a drink at no extra charge — a standard practice in Am...
• Gastropub A bar or pub that serves high-quality, upscale food alongside craft drinks.
• Munchie run A late-night trip to a store or fast-food place to buy snacks.
• A bite to eat A casual expression for a small, quick meal or light snack, often between meals.
• Grease bomb An extremely greasy, unhealthy food item.
• Food fight A chaotic scene where people throw food at each other, often in a cafeteria s...