a taste of your own medicine
Experiencing the same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others.
Example: When his own joke was turned on him, he finally got a taste of his own medicine.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Food Idioms vocabulary — B2
Food idioms for describing flattery, risk and everyday judgements, with phrases like butter someone up, a recipe for disaster and put all your eggs in one basket.
16 questions
Words in this set
16food for thought
An idea or piece of information that is worth thinking about seriously.
Example:
Her speech gave the audience plenty of food for thought.
a piece of the pie
A share of something valuable, such as profit or opportunity.
Example:
Every investor wanted a piece of the pie once the company went public.
cream of the crop
The very best examples chosen from a larger group.
Example:
Only the cream of the crop get accepted into the programme.
the whole enchilada
The entire thing, absolutely everything included.
Example:
For the anniversary, we're getting the full package — flowers, dinner, the whole enchilada.
butter someone up
To flatter someone in order to get a favour from them later.
Example:
He tried to butter up the boss before asking for a raise.
a recipe for disaster
A plan or combination of factors that is very likely to end badly.
Example:
Mixing tired drivers with a tight deadline is a recipe for disaster.
put all your eggs in one basket
To risk everything on a single plan with no backup if it fails.
Example:
Investing your entire savings in one company is putting all your eggs in one basket.
small potatoes
Something unimportant or insignificant, especially in amount.
Example:
Compared to last year's losses, this expense is small potatoes.
have a finger in every pie
To be involved in many different activities or projects at the same time.
Example:
She has a finger in every pie at that company, from marketing to finance.
as different as chalk and cheese
Completely unlike each other.
Example:
The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese.
worth your salt
Good at your job and deserving respect.
Example:
No engineer worth your salt would sign that off.
take the biscuit
To be the most annoying or surprising thing so far.
Example:
Charging for the water really does take the biscuit.
go pear-shaped
To go badly wrong.
Example:
The whole weekend began to go pear-shaped on the Friday night.
a slice of the action
A share in something profitable or exciting.
Example:
Everyone wanted a slice of the action once the figures came out.
sell someone a lemon
To sell somebody something that turns out to be faulty.
Example:
The garage managed to sell someone a lemon twice in one month.
