get up an appetite

To become hungry, perhaps due to strenuous activity. You must have gotten up a appetite working out in the garden for so long! For some reason, I always get up an appetite after going to a museum. Come in for some snacks—I know you must have gotten up an appetite cleaning out the garage.

have an appetite for (something)

1. Literally, to be hungry for a particular food. I really have an appetite for Mom's spaghetti and meatballs today. I hope you have an appetite for grilled chicken because that's what I'm making! I'm sorry, I had a big chocolate bar a little while ago, so I just don't have an appetite for dinner right now.

2. To have an intense desire, yearning, or need for something. Even from a young age he had an appetite for knowledge, devouring any books he could get his hands on. Growing up in such a small, secluded town, I constantly had an appetite for romance and adventure. Piper used to be such a homebody. I love that she has an appetite for adventure these days!

have no appetite for (something)

1. Literally, to not be hungry for a particular meal or kind of food. I'm sorry, I had a big chocolate bar a little while ago, so I have no appetite for dinner right now. If Eddie has no appetite for tacos, something's wrong. Taco Tuesday is usually his favorite day of the week! A: "Honey, I know you're grieving, but you have to eat." B: "Mom, I have no appetite for anything."

2. To have no desire, yearning, or need for something. He's a really smart kid, but he seems to have no appetite for learning. You don't want to explore the cave with me? What's wrong, have you no appetite for adventure? Why would someone who has no appetite for conflict become a lawyer?

lose (one's) appetite

To no longer be hungry; to no longer have a desire or inclination to eat. Hearing the gruesome details of the murder made me lose my appetite. The news was so sobering that we all lost our appetites.

lose (one's) appetite for (something)

To no longer have a desire or inclination to eat something. I lost my appetite for salmon after getting food poisoning from it a few years ago. If you watch that documentary about meat production, you'll probably lose your appetite for it. Don't have any more snacks. I don't want you losing your appetite for dinner.

not have an appetite for (something)

1. Literally, to not be hungry for a particular meal or kind of food. I'm sorry, I had a big chocolate bar a little while ago, so I just don't have an appetite for dinner right now.

2. To have no desire, yearning, or need for something. He's a really smart kid, but he doesn't seem to have an appetite for learning.

whet (one's) appetite

To induce or increase one's interest in something. The first chapter of that novel really whetted my appetite—I'm eager to read more of it tonight.

See also: appetite, whet

work up an appetite

To become hungry after engaging in some activity, typically one that is physically strenuous. You've been out building that fence for nearly three hours. Come on in for lunch—I bet you've worked up an appetite!

get up an appetite

Fig. to do something to make one very hungry. (Usually in this order.) He can't seem to get up an appetite these days. Whenever I jog, I really get up an appetite.

have an appetite for something

1. Lit. to have a desire to eat something in particular. I have an appetite for a nice big steak.

2. Fig. to have a desire to have, see, hear, etc., something. Bobby has a big appetite for sports and activity. Bob has no appetite for violence on television.

lose one's appetite

to lose one's desire to eat. After that gory movie, I'm afraid I've lost my appetite.

whet someone's appetite

Fig. to cause someone to be interested in something and to be eager to have, know, learn, etc., more about it. Seeing that film really whetted my sister's appetite for horror films. She now sees as many as possible. My appetite for theater was whetted when I was very young.

See also: appetite, whet

whet one's appetite

Arouse one's interest or eagerness, as in That first Schubert piece whetted my appetite; I hope she sings some others. This idiom, first recorded in 1612, transfers making one hungry for food to other kinds of eagerness.

See also: appetite, whet

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.

whet someone's appetite

COMMON If something whets your appetite for a particular thing, it makes you want it. Winning the World Championship should have whetted his appetite for more success. Her appetite already whetted by the book, she took a trip to England. Note: You can also say that something whets the appetite. The series is entertaining, and it certainly whets the appetite. Note: To whet a knife means to sharpen it.

See also: appetite, whet

whet someone's appetite

stimulate someone's interest by partial revelation.

See also: appetite, whet

ˌwhet somebody’s ˈappetite

make somebody feel hungry; make somebody interested in something: Don’t eat too much of this dish. It’s only to whet your appetite for the main course. ♢ One of my teachers lent me a book about climbing, and it really whetted my appetite.

If you whet a knife, sword, etc., you make it sharper.

See also: appetite, whet

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