30 Slang Words Related to Food and Drink

Hello everyone!

Today we’re exploring the world of food and drink jargon.

Have you ever been curious about what your pals are referring to when they mention “eats” or “brew”?

Get ready for some excitement!

I have 30 cool and unique phrases that will help you speak like a true food enthusiast.

Let’s get started!

Grub

Let’s start with a classic. “Grub” is a casual way to refer to food in general. When someone says, “Let’s go get some grub,” they’re simply suggesting grabbing a bite to eat. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done!

Example: “I’m starving! Want to go find some grub?”

Nosh

“Nosh” is a versatile word. It can be used as a noun to mean a light snack or as a verb meaning to eat. It comes from Yiddish and has become pretty common in English.

Example: “I’m feeling a bit peckish. I think I’ll nosh on some crackers.”

Java

Coffee lovers, this one’s for you! “Java” is a slang term for coffee. It gets its name from the island of Java in Indonesia, a major coffee-producing region.

Example: “I can’t start my day without a cup of java.”

Eats

Simple and to the point, “eats” is just another way to say “food.” It’s often used in phrases like “good eats” to describe tasty food.

Example: “This restaurant has some of the best eats in town!”

Chow

Similar to “grub,” “chow” is a casual term for food. It can also be used as a verb meaning “to eat.”

Example: “Come on, let’s chow down before the movie starts.”

Suds

When someone offers you some “suds,” they’re not talking about soap bubbles! In the world of drink slang, “suds” refers to beer.

Example: “After work, we’re heading to the bar for some suds. Want to join?”

Juice

While “juice” normally refers to fruit juice, in slang it can mean alcohol, especially when talking about wine.

Example: “This party’s pretty dull. I wish they’d break out the juice.”

Grease

In food slang, “grease” often refers to unhealthy, fatty foods, especially fast food.

Example: “After a night out, we always end up grabbing some grease at the 24-hour diner.”

Munchies

“Munchies” refers to snack foods, or the desire to eat snack foods. It’s often associated with the hunger that some people experience after using marijuana.

Example: “I’ve got a bad case of the munchies. Pass the chips!”

Nuke

To “nuke” food means to heat it up in the microwave. It’s a playful reference to the speed and power of microwave ovens.

Example: “I don’t have time to cook. I’ll just nuke a frozen dinner.”

More words:

Sammie

A cute, shortened version of “sandwich.” It’s casual and often used when talking about homemade sandwiches.

Example: “I packed a turkey sammie for lunch today.”

Cuppa

Primarily used in British English, a “cuppa” is short for “cup of tea,” though it can sometimes refer to coffee as well.

Example: “Fancy a cuppa? I’m putting the kettle on.”

Brew

While “brew” can refer to the process of making beer or coffee, as a slang term it often means beer itself.

Example: “After a long day, I like to relax with a cold brew.”

Vino

Borrowed from Italian, “vino” is a casual way to refer to wine.

Example: “Let’s open a bottle of vino and chat.”

Grub on

To “grub on” something means to eat it, often with enthusiasm.

Example: “We grubbed on pizza all night while binge-watching our favorite show.”

Noms

Short for “nomnom” (the sound of eating), “noms” is a cutesy way to refer to food, especially delicious food.

Example: “Check out these noms I made for dinner!”

Hair of the dog

This odd phrase refers to drinking alcohol as a way to cure a hangover. It comes from an old belief that rubbing the hair of a dog on a dog bite would cure it.

Example: “I’m feeling rough this morning. I might need some hair of the dog.”

Adam’s ale

A humorous way to refer to water. It’s based on the idea that water was the only drink available to Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Example: “No soda for me, thanks. I’ll stick with Adam’s ale.”

Rocket fuel

When someone calls a drink “rocket fuel,” they mean it’s very strong, usually referring to coffee or alcohol.

Example: “Whoa, this coffee is like rocket fuel! I’ll be awake for days.”

Mystery meat

This term is used for any unidentifiable meat, often in reference to cafeteria or low-quality processed foods.

Example: “I’m not sure what this is… looks like mystery meat to me.”

Greasy spoon

A “greasy spoon” is a small, cheap restaurant or diner, typically specializing in fried foods.

Example: “After the concert, we ended up at a greasy spoon for some late-night eats.”

Gut bomb

A “gut bomb” is a heavy, greasy meal that might upset your stomach or make you feel overly full.

Example: “That double cheeseburger and fries was a real gut bomb. I need a nap!”

Brain food

“Brain food” refers to food that’s supposed to be good for mental function or studying.

Example: “I always eat some nuts as brain food before a big exam.”

Liquid courage

This term refers to alcohol when it’s consumed to boost confidence or reduce inhibitions.

Example: “He needed some liquid courage before asking her to dance.”

Finger-lickin’ good

Made famous by KFC, this phrase describes food that’s so delicious you want to lick your fingers clean after eating it.

Example: “My grandma’s fried chicken is finger-lickin’ good!”

Comfort food

While not strictly slang, “comfort food” is a common term for food that provides nostalgic or sentimental value, often simple, home-style dishes.

Example: “When I’m feeling down, I always turn to my favorite comfort food: mac and cheese.”

Doggy bag

A “doggy bag” is a container for leftover food from a restaurant, supposedly to feed to your dog (but usually eaten by humans).

Example: “This portion is huge! I’ll definitely need a doggy bag.”

Bubbly

“Bubbly” is a playful term for champagne or other sparkling wines.

Example: “Let’s pop open some bubbly to celebrate!”

Hooch

“Hooch” is a slang term for alcohol, especially cheap or illegally made liquor.

Example: “Be careful with that hooch, it’s pretty strong stuff.”

Bread

In slang, “bread” can mean money. While not directly food-related in meaning, it’s a food word used in a slang context.

Example: “I need to make some bread so I can afford to eat out more often.”

These 30 slang words about food and drinks that will help you sound like a food expert in no time. These words make our conversations about food and drinks more interesting and fun.

Remember, slang is always changing, and what’s cool now might not be later. Some words might be more popular in certain places or with certain age groups.

The trick is to pay attention to how people around you talk and learn from them. Using slang when talking about food and drinks can make you sound more relaxed and relatable when chatting with friends.

It gives your speech some flavor and makes talking about food and drinks more fun. Just remember to be careful about who you’re talking to – some words might not be suitable for formal situations.

Next time you’re out with friends, why not try sprinkling some of these words into your conversation?

Order a cuppa, compliment the chef on their finger-lickin’ good eats, or suggest grabbing some grub.

You might be surprised at how natural it feels and how it can liven up your chats about food and drink.

Food and drinks are things everyone experiences, and the slang we use to talk about them shows our cultural attitudes and values.

Some words, like “grub” or “chow,” focus on the basic, fuel-like side of food.

Others, like “noms” or “finger-lickin’ good,” celebrate the pleasure we get from eating.

Slang related to drinks can show our thoughts on alcohol. Words like “liquid courage” or “hair of the dog” highlight the social and cultural roles of alcoholic drinks in many societies.

Just remember to use these words in the right situation. What’s fun with friends might not work in a job interview or fancy dinner.

But in the right place, these words can spice up your language and help you bond with others over food and drinks.

So next time you’re hungry, why not ask your friends to grab some grub or enjoy some finger-lickin’ good food?