stomach (redirected from stomaching)

*butterflies in one's stomach

a nervous feeling in one's stomach. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone~.) Whenever I have to speak in public, I get butterflies in my stomach. She always has butterflies in her stomach before a test. It was not frightening enough to give me butterflies in my stomach, but it made me a little apprehensive.

See also: butterfly

An army marches on its stomach.

Prov. An army needs a regular supply of food in order to keep on fighting. The invading army will soon have to pull back. An army marches on its stomach, and they're out of food.

See also: army

can't stand (the sight of) someone or something and can't stomach someone or something

Fig. [to be] unable to tolerate someone or something; disliking someone or something extremely. (Also with cannot.) I can't stand the sight of cooked carrots. Mr. Jones can't stomach the sight of blood. None of us can stand this place. Nobody can stand Tom when he smokes a cigar.

See also: stand

cast-iron stomach

Fig. a very strong stomach that can withstand bad food or anything nauseating. If I didn't have a cast-iron stomach, I couldn't eat this stuff. Fred—known for his cast-iron stomach—ate ten whole hot peppers.

have the stomach for something 

1. Fig. to be able to tolerate certain foods. Do you have the stomach for Tex-Mex cooking? We just don't have the stomach for onions anymore.

2. Fig. to have the courage or resolution to do something. I don't have the stomach for watching those horror movies. Ken doesn't have the stomach for fighting.

See also: have

not able to stomach someone or something and cannot stomach someone or something

Fig. not to be able to put up with someone or something; not to be able to tolerate or endure someone or something. Jane cannot stomach violent movies. The sensitive student could not stomach a lot of ridicule.

See also: able

one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach

Fig. one has taken more food than one can eat. I can't eat all this. I'm afraid that my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Try to take less food. Your eyes are bigger than your stomach at every meal.

See also: big, eye

pit of one's stomach

Fig. the middle of one's stomach; the location of a "visceral response." I got a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach when they told me the bad news.

See also: pit

turn someone's stomach

Fig. to upset one's stomach. The violent movie turned my stomach. The rich, creamy food turned John's stomach.

See also: turn

way to a man's heart is through his stomach

Prov. If you want a man to love you, you should feed him good food. Sue: I want Keith to notice me, but he doesn't even know I'm alive. Mother: Invite him over and cook him a good meal. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

See also: heart, his, through, way

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not have the stomach for something   also have no stomach for something

to not feel brave or determined enough to do something unpleasant Demoralised and exhausted, the soldiers did not have the stomach for another fight.

See turn your stomach

See also: have

somebody's eyes are bigger than their belly/stomach  (humorous)

something that you say when someone has taken more food than they can eat I can't finish this piece of cake. I'm afraid my eyes were bigger than my stomach as usual.

See also: belly, big, eye

a strong stomach

the ability to watch very unpleasant things without getting upset or feeling ill (often + to do sth) Some of the war scenes are fairly horrific - you need to have a strong stomach to watch them.

See also: strong

feel sick to your stomach  (American & Australian)

if something makes you feel sick to your stomach, it is so unpleasant that it makes you feel ill Looking at those pieces of raw meat I felt sick to my stomach.

See also: feel, sick

turn your stomach

to make you feel sick, often because you are angry or upset about something The amount of money she spends on designer clothes really turns my stomach. The sight of Joe eating raw fish is enough to turn your stomach.

See put the clock back, come full circle, turn to good account, stand on its head, turn the knife, beat swords into ploughshares, come up up trumps

See also: turn

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a strong stomach

the ability not to be upset by unpleasant things You have to have a strong stomach to invest in the stock market these days.

See also: strong

have butterflies in your stomach

to feel very nervous Her mouth was dry, there were butterflies in her stomach, and her knees were shaking so much it was hard to walk on stage.

See also: butterfly, have

not have the stomach (for something) also have no stomach (for something)

to not feel strong or brave enough to do something unpleasant The soldiers did not have the stomach for another fight.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not have the stomach to do something: I don't think I've got the stomach to argue with her again about money.

Related vocabulary: your heart isn't in it

See also: have

on an empty stomach

when you have not eaten anything He left early this morning and drove three hours on an empty stomach.

See also: empty

settle your stomach

to make your stomach feel less upset She found that a cup of tea usually settled her stomach.

See also: settle

sick to your stomach

feeling like you are going to vomit When you saw the way his ankle was broken, you got sick to your stomach.

See also: sick