(as) plain as porridge

1. Very obvious or noticeable; very easy to understand. It's plain as porridge that they like each other— they've been flirting all night! In the end, the solution was as plain as porridge. These directions are plain as porridge, so you shouldn't have any questions.

2. Very homely, unattractive, or dull. If you don't put on a little bit of make-up, this guy will think you're plain as porridge, which is kind of the opposite of what we're going for. Honestly, he looks plain as porridge compared to other guys I've dated. But he's smart and sweet, and that's all that matters to me. Who cares if she's plain as porridge? Her father's a billionaire—do you know how much money you could inherit one day?

be (as) plain as porridge

1. To be very obvious or noticeable; to be very easy to understand. It's plain as porridge that they like each other— they've been flirting all night! In the end, the solution was as plain as porridge. These directions are plain as porridge, so you shouldn't have any questions.

2. To be very homely and unattractive. If you don't put on a little bit of make-up, this guy will think you're plain as porridge, which is kind of the opposite of what you want on a first date. Honestly, he's as plain as porridge compared to other guys I've dated. But he's smart and sweet, and that's all that matters to me. Who cares if she's plain as porridge? Her father's a billionaire—do you know how much money you could inherit one day?

do porridge

slang To serve a prison sentence. Because porridge is inexpensive, it was commonly served in prisons. Primarily heard in UK. After doing porridge for the past five years, Mark is getting released from jail today. A: "I 'eard Bill's doing porridge again." B: "Yep, six years in Thameside." That kid was always trouble, so I'm not surprised he's doing porridge these days.

everything tastes of porridge

No matter how lost one gets in fantasy, the reality of day-to-day life (here represented by "porridge") is always present and cannot be ignored. Just remember, future Broadway star, that everything tastes of porridge. My grandmother always reminded me that "everything tastes of porridge," so I would stay humble. I can fantasize all day about accepting an Academy Award, but there's always a crying baby to snap me out of it. Truly, everything tastes of porridge.

See also: everything, of, porridge, taste

keep your breath to cool your porridge

dated Focus on yourself and your life, rather than other people's lives and issues. Primarily heard in UK. Lady Martha, I strongly suggest that you keep your breath to cool your porridge, rather than intruding upon these affairs.

See also: breath, cool, keep, porridge, to

pace around hot porridge like a cat

To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic. The phrase is Scandinavian in origin. Don't pace around hot porridge like a cat—just tell me the truth. Why are you pacing around hot porridge like a cat? Are you leaving our company?

See also: around, cat, hot, like, pace, porridge

save one's breath

Refrain from arguing about a lost cause, as in You can save your breath; I'm not going to change my mind. This term was also put as save your breath to cool your porridge (or broth), that is, by not blowing on the too hot liquid. The idea of not expending one's breath to say something another person doesn't want to hear dates from the early 1700s.

do ˈporridge

(British English, old-fashioned, informal) be in prison serving a sentence: He’s doing porridge again, this time for armed robbery.This comes from the fact that as porridge is a cheap food that makes the stomach feel full, it was often served in prisons.