avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre

French

Etymology

Literally, “to have the eyes bigger than the stomach.”

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.vwaʁ le.z‿jø ply ɡʁo kə l(ə) vɑ̃tʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre

1. to have eyes bigger than one's stomach (to take more food on one's plate than one can eat)

   Hé, tu veux un peu de ce gâteau ? On dirait que j’avais les yeux plus gros que le ventre.

   Hey, do you want some of this cake? It seems my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

2. (figuratively) to bite off more than one can chew (to try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing)

   Anne est de nouveau épuisée. Elle a toujours les yeux plus gros que le ventre.

   Anne is exhausted again. She's always biting off more than she can chew.

Conjugation

• see avoir