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Being hungry is that empty feeling in your stomach that tells you it is time to eat a good meal or snack. Similes are fun expressions that compare two different things using the words like or as to help paint a clear picture in your mind. In this lesson, we will explore many useful similes that describe having a big appetite, wanting food, and feeling stomach growls. Let’s dive in and see how these expressions work.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes for being hungry that mean having a big appetite, wanting to eat food, and feeling extremely hungry. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Being Hungry
1. Hungry as a bear
Meaning: Feeling extremely hungry and ready to eat a very large amount of food.
For Example: After playing soccer all afternoon, I was hungry as a bear. / My brother came home from practice hungry as a bear and ate two plates of pasta.
Other Ways to Say: Starving like a bear / Very hungry
2. Growling like an angry lion
Meaning: Having a stomach that makes loud, rumbling noises because you need food.
For Example: During the quiet math test, my tummy was growling like an angry lion. / Her stomach started growling like an angry lion right before lunch time.
Other Ways to Say: Rumbling like a lion / Roaring stomach
3. Hollow as an empty drum
Meaning: Feeling like your stomach is completely empty and needs to be filled with food.
For Example: By noon, my belly felt hollow as an empty drum. / After skipping my morning snack, I felt hollow as an empty drum.
Other Ways to Say: Empty as a drum / Completely hollow
4. Hungry as a wolf
Meaning: Wanting to eat food immediately because of a sharp, strong appetite.
For Example: The hikers were hungry as a wolf after walking up the steep mountain. / When the pizza arrived, we were all hungry as a wolf.
Other Ways to Say: Starving like a wolf / Fiercely hungry
5. Empty as a cave
Meaning: Feeling a wide, open sense of emptiness inside your belly from missing a meal.
For Example: Before dinner was ready, my stomach felt empty as a cave. / After a long day at the amusement park, his belly was empty as a cave.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow as a cavern / Bare as a cave
6. Eager as a puppy at dinnertime
Meaning: Excited and impatient to sit down and eat your favorite meal.
For Example: The kids sat at the kitchen table eager as a puppy at dinnertime. / I waited by the oven eager as a puppy at dinnertime while the cookies baked.
Other Ways to Say: Excited for food / Eager for dinner
7. Empty as a forgotten lunchbox
Meaning: Having no food left inside your belly after a busy day of playing.
For Example: After recess, my stomach was empty as a forgotten lunchbox. / By three o’clock, she felt empty as a forgotten lunchbox and grabbed an apple.
Other Ways to Say: Totally empty / Completely bare
8. Hungry as a stray dog
Meaning: Looking around eagerly for any delicious snack or food you can find.
For Example: The camper was hungry as a stray dog after the long canoe trip. / He searched the pantry hungry as a stray dog for an afternoon snack.
Other Ways to Say: Searching for food / Very hungry
9. Rumbling like thunder in a storm
Meaning: Making continuous, loud noises from an empty stomach before mealtime.
For Example: My stomach was rumbling like thunder in a storm while we waited for our food. / The room was quiet except for his belly rumbling like thunder in a storm.
Other Ways to Say: Roaring like thunder / Stormy stomach
10. Dry as a desert bone
Meaning: Feeling very thirsty and hungry for a refreshing drink and meal.
For Example: After running around the track, my throat felt dry as a desert bone. / He came inside from the hot sun feeling dry as a desert bone.
Other Ways to Say: Parched like a desert / Very thirsty
11. Wild as a hunting hawk
Meaning: Having a fierce desire to hunt for a tasty meal right now.
For Example: The hungry athlete looked at the buffet wild as a hunting hawk. / She marched into the kitchen wild as a hunting hawk looking for dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Fierce for food / Hunting for a meal
12. Empty as a blown-out balloon
Meaning: Feeling completely deflated and lacking energy because you need a snack.
For Example: Without breakfast, I felt empty as a blown-out balloon at school. / His energy dropped and his belly felt empty as a blown-out balloon.
Other Ways to Say: Deflated like a balloon / Lacking food energy
13. Hungry as a caterpillar on a leaf
Meaning: Wanting to chew and munch continuously on lots of yummy snacks.
For Example: My little sister was hungry as a caterpillar on a leaf during the picnic. / He ate snack after snack, hungry as a caterpillar on a leaf.
Other Ways to Say: Munching continuously / Always chewing
14. Weak as a newborn kitten
Meaning: Feeling tired and low on energy because your stomach has been empty for too long.
For Example: By late afternoon, I felt weak as a newborn kitten and needed juice. / Skipping lunch made him feel weak as a newborn kitten during gym class.
Other Ways to Say: Low on energy / Faint from hunger
15. Empty as an unused plate
Meaning: Having a stomach that contains absolutely no food at all.
For Example: My belly felt empty as an unused plate before the pancake breakfast. / After the long bike ride, his stomach was empty as an unused plate.
Other Ways to Say: Clean as a plate / Completely bare
16. Hungry as a shark in the ocean
Meaning: Ready to gobble up a big meal quickly without waiting a second longer.
For Example: When the barbecue was served, he was hungry as a shark in the ocean. / The swimmer came out of the pool hungry as a shark in the ocean.
Other Ways to Say: Ready to gobble food / Extremely eager to eat
17. Desperate as a lost traveler
Meaning: Wanting a meal very badly after going a long time without eating.
For Example: He looked at the sandwich board desperate as a lost traveler. / After missing breakfast, she wanted lunch desperate as a lost traveler.
Other Ways to Say: Wanting food badly / Urgent for a meal
18. Empty as a dry water well
Meaning: Lacking any food or drink to fuel your body for the afternoon.
For Example: By four o’clock, my tummy was empty as a dry water well. / The long road trip left our bellies empty as a dry water well.
Other Ways to Say: Completely dry / Completely empty
19. Hungry as a hibernating bear in spring
Meaning: Waking up or finishing an activity with an enormous, uncontrollable appetite.
For Example: When I woke up from my long nap, I was hungry as a hibernating bear in spring. / He ran to the kitchen hungry as a hibernating bear in spring.
Other Ways to Say: Giant appetite / Super hungry
20. Pacing like a lion at feeding time
Meaning: Walking back and forth impatietly while waiting for your food to be served.
For Example: My dad was pacing like a lion at feeding time while the pizza baked. / The kids were pacing like a lion at feeding time near the dinner table.
Other Ways to Say: Impatient for food / Waiting for dinner
21. Empty as a vacant house
Meaning: Feeling a clear, hollow space inside your body where food should be.
For Example: Before we ate lunch, my stomach felt empty as a vacant house. / Her belly felt empty as a vacant house after the morning workout.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow inside / Bare as a house
22. Hungry as a hound dog
Meaning: Sniffing around the kitchen because the smell of cooking food makes you want to eat.
For Example: The smell of roasting chicken made me hungry as a hound dog. / He followed the sweet smell of waffles, hungry as a hound dog.
Other Ways to Say: Sniffing for food / Eager for a meal
23. Buzzing like a honeybee around soup
Meaning: Flying around the kitchen excitedly because delicious food is being prepared.
For Example: The children hovered around the stove buzzing like a honeybee around soup. / I moved around the counter buzzing like a honeybee around soup.
Other Ways to Say: Hovering near food / Excited for soup
24. Bare as an old winter tree
Meaning: Having an empty tummy that is completely cleared of any food or snacks.
For Example: After three hours of running, my belly was bare as an old winter tree. / My stomach felt bare as an old winter tree before dinner was served.
Other Ways to Say: Completely bare / Stripped of food
25. Light as a floating feather
Meaning: Feeling lightheaded or airy because you haven’t eaten a solid meal recently.
For Example: Without a morning muffin, I felt light as a floating feather in class. / Skipping her afternoon snack left her feeling light as a floating feather.
Other Ways to Say: Lightheaded from hunger / Airy inside
26. Hungry as a farm pig at the trough
Meaning: Ready to eat a full dish of yummy food with great enthusiasm.
For Example: He dove into his bowl of cereal hungry as a farm pig at the trough. / After the soccer game, the team was hungry as a farm pig at the trough.
Other Ways to Say: Eating with gusto / Ready for a trough
27. Quiet as an empty pantry
Meaning: Feeling silent and completely devoid of any food inside your belly.
For Example: Before the morning bell, my stomach was quiet as an empty pantry. / My belly felt quiet as an empty pantry until the dinner bell rang.
Other Ways to Say: Silent and empty / Bare as a pantry
28. Drained as a squeezed lemon
Meaning: Running out of energy completely because your body needs food to recharge.
For Example: After working in the garden, I was drained as a squeezed lemon. / He sat on the bench feeling drained as a squeezed lemon until he ate an orange.
Other Ways to Say: Completely out of energy / Needing fuel
29. Hungry as a crocodile in a river
Meaning: Waiting quietly and eagerly to snap up a big, satisfying dinner.
For Example: She sat at the dining table hungry as a crocodile in a river. / The boy eyed the platter of chicken, hungry as a crocodile in a river.
Other Ways to Say: Ready to snap up food / Eager for a big bite
30. Empty as a popped paper bag
Meaning: Having a flat, hollow belly that needs a meal to fill it up again.
For Example: By the end of the long hike, my stomach felt empty as a popped paper bag. / His belly was empty as a popped paper bag before he ate his lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Flat stomach / Totally empty
31. Eager as a seal for fish
Meaning: Watching the cook excitedly in hopes of getting a delicious treat right away.
For Example: The kids watched mom flip pancakes, eager as a seal for fish. / I stood near the barbecue grill eager as a seal for fish.
Other Ways to Say: Excited for a treat / Eager for food
32. Flat as a pancake
Meaning: Having a stomach that feels completely flat and empty after a long time without food.
For Example: After running the morning race, my tummy felt flat as a pancake. / She patted her stomach and complained it felt flat as a pancake.
Other Ways to Say: Empty belly / Flat stomach
33. Hungry as a robin in winter
Meaning: Looking around carefully for any small bite of food you can enjoy.
For Example: On the snowy day, I searched the kitchen hungry as a robin in winter. / She looked through the fridge hungry as a robin in winter.
Other Ways to Say: Searching for crumbs / Looking for snacks
34. Empty as a cleared dinner table
Meaning: Having no food left inside you after working hard all morning long.
For Example: After cleaning my room, my belly was empty as a cleared dinner table. / By noon, his stomach felt empty as a cleared dinner table.
Other Ways to Say: Cleaned out / Void of food
35. Restless as a fish in a net
Meaning: Unable to sit still because your empty stomach wants a snack right now.
For Example: Waiting for the food delivery made me restless as a fish in a net. / The hungry toddler was restless as a fish in a net in his high chair.
Other Ways to Say: Unsettled for food / Impatient for snacks
36. Hungry as a barn cat
Meaning: Ready to pounce on a plate of hot food the second it is placed down.
For Example: The teenager sat down for dinner hungry as a barn cat. / She approached the snack table hungry as a barn cat after track practice.
Other Ways to Say: Ready to pounce on food / Super eager to eat
37. Dry as a dusty road
Meaning: Needing a cold drink and a juicy snack to refresh your dry mouth.
For Example: Playing basketball in the sun left my mouth dry as a dusty road. / He reached for a water bottle feeling dry as a dusty road.
Other Ways to Say: Parched / In need of a drink
38. Empty as an unstacked bookshelf
Meaning: Feeling a complete lack of food inside your belly during a long wait.
For Example: Before the party started, my tummy was empty as an unstacked bookshelf. / Her stomach felt empty as an unstacked bookshelf after the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Bare inside / Empty belly
39. Hungry as a badger in a burrow
Meaning: Wanting to come out of your room to find a big, hearty meal.
For Example: He came out of his bedroom after studying, hungry as a badger in a burrow. / The boy emerged from the yard hungry as a badger in a burrow.
Other Ways to Say: Ready for a hearty meal / Searching for dinner
40. Hollow as a bamboo reed
Meaning: Feeling an empty space in your middle that makes a light, hollow feeling.
For Example: Standing in the lunch line, my middle felt hollow as a bamboo reed. / After skipping my afternoon fruit, I felt hollow as a bamboo reed.
Other Ways to Say: Light and empty / Hollow inside
41. Eager as a seagull at the beach
Meaning: Gathering quickly around anyone who opens a bag of chips or snacks.
For Example: When I opened the pretzel bag, my friends came over eager as a seagull at the beach. / The children crowded around the picnic basket eager as a seagull at the beach.
Other Ways to Say: Crowding for snacks / Eager for chips
42. Hungry as a vulture in the sky
Meaning: Spotting food from far away and wanting to dig in immediately.
For Example: He spotted the platter of sandwiches, hungry as a vulture in the sky. / She eyed the tray of appetizers hungry as a vulture in the sky.
Other Ways to Say: Spotting food / Eager to dig in
43. Empty as an unlit lantern
Meaning: Lacking the food energy needed to make your body feel warm and active.
For Example: Without my morning oatmeal, I felt empty as an unlit lantern. / His energy was low and his stomach was empty as an unlit lantern.
Other Ways to Say: Low on fuel / Lacking energy
44. Clamouring like birds in a nest
Meaning: Making lots of noise with your friends or family because everyone wants to eat.
For Example: The kids at the birthday party were clamouring like birds in a nest for cake. / We sat at the kitchen counter clamouring like birds in a nest for breakfast.
Other Ways to Say: Noisy for food / Asking for snacks
45. Hungry as a tiger in the jungle
Meaning: Having a strong, powerful urge to devour a huge lunch or dinner.
For Example: After working out, he was hungry as a tiger in the jungle. / She walked up to the dinner table hungry as a tiger in the jungle.
Other Ways to Say: Powerful appetite / Ready to devour food
46. Bare as a desert dune
Meaning: Having an empty stomach that has zero food left in it.
For Example: My belly felt bare as a desert dune after the long swimming lesson. / By evening time, his stomach was bare as a desert dune.
Other Ways to Say: Totally bare / Completely empty
47. Grumbling like an old bear
Meaning: Making grumpy, complaining sounds because dinner is taking too long.
For Example: My grandfather was grumbling like an old bear while waiting for his soup. / He sat on the couch grumbling like an old bear because he wanted a snack.
Other Ways to Say: Grumpy for food / Complaining from hunger
48. Hungry as a hawk on a branch
Meaning: Watching the kitchen counter intently to see when food will be served.
For Example: She sat near the kitchen island, hungry as a hawk on a branch. / He watched his dad cook, hungry as a hawk on a branch.
Other Ways to Say: Watching for food / Intent on eating
49. Empty as a drained pool
Meaning: Having no food energy left in your belly after a busy day.
For Example: After playing in the park all afternoon, I felt empty as a drained pool. / Her stomach was empty as a drained pool before the evening meal.
Other Ways to Say: Out of fuel / Totally drained
50. Wild as a pack of wolves
Meaning: Being a group of kids who are all extremely hungry at the same time.
For Example: The soccer team ran toward the snack bar wild as a pack of wolves. / When the pizza arrived, the kids acted wild as a pack of wolves.
Other Ways to Say: Group of big appetites / Extremely hungry together
51. Hungry as a goat on a hill
Meaning: Ready to eat almost anything put in front of you because you are so hungry.
For Example: He was so hungry as a goat on a hill that he even ate his vegetables. / After the long walk, she was hungry as a goat on a hill.
Other Ways to Say: Ready to eat anything / Super hungry
52. Dry as a baked brick
Meaning: Wanting a nice cold glass of water or milk along with your afternoon food.
For Example: After mowing the lawn, my throat felt dry as a baked brick. / He drank two glasses of water because he was dry as a baked brick.
Other Ways to Say: Very dry / Parched throat
53. Empty as a hollow log
Meaning: Feeling a clear, open emptiness right in the middle of your stomach.
For Example: My belly felt hollow as a hollow log before we stopped for lunch. / After skipping his snack, he felt hollow as a hollow log.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow middle / Empty belly
54. Hungry as a sea monster
Meaning: Wanting a giant portion of food to satisfy a huge, massive appetite.
For Example: After the swim meet, I was hungry as a sea monster. / He ordered three tacos because he was hungry as a sea monster.
Other Ways to Say: Giant appetite / Huge hunger
55. Waiting like a dog at the table
Meaning: Sitting quietly and hopefully near food in hopes of getting a bite.
For Example: The kids sat at the counter waiting like a dog at the table for pie. / I stood near the stove waiting like a dog at the table for dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Hoping for food / Waiting for a bite
56. Empty as an open jar
Meaning: Having nothing inside your belly to keep you full and satisfied.
For Example: By five o’clock, my tummy felt empty as an open jar. / His stomach was empty as an unsealed jar before dinner started.
Other Ways to Say: Unfilled belly / Empty inside
57. Hungry as a pelican on the pier
Meaning: Ready to open your mouth wide and swallow down a big meal.
For Example: The fisherman came home hungry as a pelican on the pier. / She sat down for lunch, hungry as a pelican on the pier.
Other Ways to Say: Ready for a big meal / Eager to eat
58. Faint as a fading shadow
Meaning: Feeling slightly weak or dizzy because you haven’t eaten food in hours.
For Example: Without lunch, I felt faint as a fading shadow during afternoon class. / Skipping her snack made her feel faint as a fading shadow.
Other Ways to Say: Weak from hunger / Faint for food
59. Empty as an old boot
Meaning: Feeling completely devoid of any food or snacks in your stomach.
For Example: After working out in the yard, my belly was empty as an old boot. / His stomach felt empty as an old boot before the meal was ready.
Other Ways to Say: Bare belly / Totally empty
60. Hungry as a dragon after sleep
Meaning: Having an overwhelming, fiery appetite that requires a huge feast.
For Example: When he woke up on Saturday morning, he was hungry as a dragon after sleep. / The whole family sat down, hungry as a dragon after sleep, for Sunday brunch.
Other Ways to Say: Fiery appetite / Ready for a feast
Exercise to Practice
- After playing soccer all afternoon, I was hungry as a ________.
- During the quiet math test, my tummy was growling like an angry ________.
- By noon, my belly felt hollow as an empty ________.
- The hikers were hungry as a ________ after walking up the steep mountain.
- Before dinner was ready, my stomach felt empty as a ________.
- The kids sat at the kitchen table eager as a puppy at ________time.
- After recess, my stomach was empty as a forgotten ________.
- The camper was hungry as a stray ________ after the long canoe trip.
- My stomach was rumbling like thunder in a ________ while we waited for our food.
- After running around the track, my throat felt dry as a desert ________.
- The hungry athlete looked at the buffet wild as a hunting ________.
- Without breakfast, I felt empty as a blown-out ________ at school.
- My little sister was hungry as a caterpillar on a ________ during the picnic.
- By late afternoon, I felt weak as a newborn ________ and needed juice.
- My belly felt empty as an unused ________ before the pancake breakfast.
Answer Key
- bear
- lion
- drum
- wolf
- cave
- dinner
- lunchbox
- dog
- storm
- bone
- hawk
- balloon
- leaf
- kitten
- plate
Conclusion
Learning these similes helps you talk about being hungry and wanting food in a fun and imaginative way. Instead of using plain words, you can paint a picture of how bears, wolves, and empty drums show a big appetite.
Try using a few of these expressions the next time you are ready for lunch or waiting for dinner to be ready. You will see how much more engaging your stories become when you share these fun comparisons with others!
