Food expressions with literal and figurative meanings (Part 1)

Upper crust

Literal meaning: the hardened exterior or surface of bread at the top of a loaf

Figurative meaning: The upper strata of society

e.g. The school is very elitist because only youngsters from the upper crust can afford to enroll

Additional explanation: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/upper-crust.html

Hard to swallow

Literal meaning: food that is difficult to swallow

Figurative meaning: a fact or opinion that is difficult to accept or believe

e.g. He found it hard to swallow his dismissal from work.

Piece of cake

Literal meaning: a slice of cake

Figurative meaning: an easy task

e.g. She found the exam to be a piece of cake

Additional explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piece_of_Cake

Beef

Literal meaning: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine used as food

Figurative meaning: cause for complaint

e.g. I have a beef with my insurance company for not covering the cost of my accident.

Mouthful

Literal meaning: as much as a mouth will hold

Figurative meaning: a long word or phrase

e.g. “Bosnia and Herzegovina” is quite a mouthful

Bread and butter

Literal meaning: bread and butter

Figurative meaning: a person’s basic income, livelihood or source of food.

Bread-and-butter issue:  (politics) any issue, such as inflation or prices,

that affects ordinary people in their daily lives (Wictionary)

(as alike as) two peas in a pod

Literal meaning: a pod containing two peas

Figurative meaning: two persons very similar

e.g. You can tell they're sisters at a glance - they're like two peas in a pod.

Additional explanation: www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/as-alike-as-two-peas-in-a-pod.html

Lemon

Literal meaning: a type of acid fruit

Figurative meaning: a defective product

e.g.  The car I bought was a lemon.

Additional explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_law