Eating & drinking

The unpleasant physical reaction or malaise following an overindulgence in food or drink.

The very word sounds heavy, lingering on the tongue like a meal that overstayed its welcome.

“The morning after the feast, he was left with a heavy surfeit that kept him from his duties.”

From Old French surfait, meaning an excess or overdoing, documented in Middle English literature.

Watching other people eat in the hope of being offered some.

Optimism, practised silently.

“The dog performed a masterclass in groaking beneath the table.”

19th-century dialect, recorded in Wright's English Dialect Dictionary.

To eat greedily and noisily.

Dinner, without the ceremony.

“They guttled the whole pie before the guests arrived.”

17th century; related to gut.

Good food and generous hospitality.

The host's whole philosophy in one word.

“There was belly-cheer enough for a regiment.”

16th century; from belly + cheer, in its old sense of 'provisions'.