The Village Idiom

stuffed like a turkey

The idiom "stuffed like a turkey" means being extremely full or overfilled, often referring to feeling completely satiated after a large meal or having no more capacity for food.

Food & drink · Filed under S

In a sentence

  • After eating a huge meal on Thanksgiving, I feel stuffed like a turkey.
  • The restaurant served a generous portion of food, and I was stuffed like a turkey by the end of the meal.
  • I couldn't believe how much food I ate at the buffet - I felt completely stuffed like a turkey afterwards!

Where it comes from and how it is used

"Stuffed to the gills" is another idiom that can be related to "stuffed like a turkey." This expression is used to describe a person who is completely full or has eaten to the point of being unable to consume any more food. The phrase "to the gills" refers to the gills of a fish, which are its respiratory organs. When a fish is filled to the gills, it means it has consumed as much as it can and is unable to take in any more. Similarly, when someone is stuffed to the gills, it means they have eaten to their fullest capacity and cannot eat any more.

The idiom "on a full stomach" is also related to the concept of being stuffed like a turkey. This expression is used to indicate that someone has eaten a large amount of food and is feeling satisfied or content. When someone is on a full stomach, it means they have consumed enough food to feel satiated and no longer hungry. This idiom is often used to express the feeling of being satisfied and content after a meal.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.