Example: Il a pris trop de nourriture, il avait les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
Definition
"Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre" is a French expression meaning to take or want more food than one can actually eat, often implying greediness or overestimation of one's capacity. For example, someone who serves themselves too much at a meal and cannot finish it is said to have "avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre."
Translations
To bite off more than you can chew
Tener más ojos que estómago
Meer opscheppen dan je op kunt
Omplir-se massa el plat
Die Augen größer als den Magen haben
Etymology
The phrase "avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre" literally translates to "to have eyes bigger than the stomach." It humorously highlights the idea that one's desire or perception (eyes) exceeds their physical ability (stomach). This vivid metaphor has been used in French for centuries to caution against overindulgence, especially in eating.
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"Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To bite off more than you can chew