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The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

As hungry as a wolf

Meaning

To be extremely hungry or to feel an intense, voracious appetite.

Origin

Across countless cultures and through the ages, the wolf has been an enduring symbol of raw, untamed hunger. These formidable predators, known for their relentless pursuit of prey and their lean, powerful physiques, embody an insatiable drive for sustenance. The vivid imagery of a wolf, constantly driven by the need to hunt and feed its pack, became a universally understood shorthand for intense, almost primal hunger, cementing its place in our language as the ultimate comparison for anyone feeling a ravenous appetite.

Examples

  • After hiking all day, I was as hungry as a wolf and could have eaten an entire pizza by myself.
  • The children, having played outside for hours, came in from the cold as hungry as wolves, demanding dinner immediately.
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