- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone who eats very little or sparingly, often picking at food rather than consuming large portions. It evokes the image of a bird nibbling tiny amounts, suggesting delicacy, restraint, or a small appetite. The phrase is used in dietary, social, or health contexts, often with a neutral or slightly admiring tone, though it can imply concern for insufficient eating. It reflects cultural associations of birds with lightness and frugality, contrasting with heartier eating habits.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 19th-century English, rooted in observations of birds’ small, frequent meals. It appeared in print by the 1850s, with an 1857 *Harper’s Magazine* article describing a character who ‘eats like a bird.’ The idiom gained traction in Victorian England, where delicate eating was a feminine ideal, as seen in Charlotte Brontë’s novels. Its use grew in American English during the 20th century, particularly in health and diet discourse, reflecting concerns about nutrition or aesthetics. The phrase’s vivid imagery and cross-cultural relevance ensured its popularity, though modern science notes birds often eat proportionally large amounts, adding irony to the metaphor.
- Variants
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- Eat like a bird
- Eating like a bird
- Peck like a bird
- Eat like a sparrow
- Examples
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- She eats like a bird, barely touching her plate at dinner.
- Eating like a bird, he only nibbled on the appetizers all evening.
- Her doctor was concerned because she was pecking like a bird and losing weight.
- Eat like a sparrow if you must, but make sure you’re getting enough nutrients.
- She’s always eaten like a bird, which makes hosting her for meals a challenge.
- He was eating like a bird during the meeting, too nervous to enjoy the lunch.
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