a stick-to-your-ribs meal
A meal that is especially hearty and sustaining. Have a bowl of my famous chili—it's the perfect stick-to-your-ribs meal for this cold winter weather. I'm sick of steamed vegetables and broiled chicken breast, so I'm making a rich roast beef and barley pot pie, a real stick-to-your-ribs meal. Yeah, if she's feeling nauseous, I don't think she's going to want a stick-to-your-ribs meal. Maybe just some crackers for now.
rib (one)
To tease, fool, or joke with one. I'm just ribbing you, Tom—I'm not upset at all! I thought you were being serious; don't rib me like that!
rib-tickler
A particularly funny joke. My dad loves corny jokes, so I bought him a book of rib-ticklers. You should try to slip a few rib-ticklers into your speech to help keep your audience engaged.
rock-ribbed conservative
Someone who is resolute and uncompromising in their conservative political beliefs. Primarily heard in US. My dad is a rock-ribbed conservative, so I knew he wouldn't approve of my new hippy environmentalist boyfriend. The candidate has lost favor with rock-ribbed conservatives for expressing his willingness to increase taxes.
rock-ribbed Republican
Someone who is resolutely and uncompromisingly aligned with the tenets and principles of the Republican political party. Primarily heard in US. My dad is a rock-ribbed Republican, so I knew he wouldn't approve of my new hippy environmentalist boyfriend. The candidate has lost favor with rock-ribbed Republicans for expressing his willingness to increase taxes.
stick to the/(one's) ribs
Of food, to be hearty and sustaining. I'm sick of eating nothing but fruit and vegetables—give me something that will stick to the ribs. Have a bowl of my famous chili, it will stick to your ribs in this cold weather.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
stick to one's ribs
Fig. [for food] to last long and fortify one well; [for food] to sustain one even in the coldest weather. This oatmeal ought to stick to your ribs. You need something hearty on a cold day like this. I don't want just a salad! I want something that will stick to my ribs.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
stick to the ribs
Be substantial or filling, as in It may not be health food but steak really sticks to the ribs. This idiom was first recorded in 1603.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
stick to your ribs
(of food) be very filling.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
rib
1. n. a joke; an act of teasing. I didn’t mean any harm. It was just a little rib.
2. tv. to tease someone. Please don’t rib me any more tonight. I’ve had it.
rib-tickler
n. a joke; something very funny. That was a real rib-tickler. I’ll remember that joke.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
stick to (one's) ribs
Informal To be substantial or filling. Used of food.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
stick to the ribs
To be filling and satisfying. This description of enjoying one’s food dates from at least 1603: “Some one . . . hath offred her such Kindnes as sticks by her ribs a good while after” (Wilson, The Bachelor’s Banquet). It appeared in John Ray’s proverb collection of 1670 as well.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer