food coma

Meaning

A state of extreme lethargy, sleepiness, or fatigue that occurs after consuming a large, heavy meal. It is a humorous, informal term widely used after holiday feasts, heavy lunches, or high-carb meals.

Examples

• After eating that massive plate of pasta, I fell straight into a food coma.

  After eating that massive plate of pasta, I fell straight into a food coma.

• We all sat on the sofa in a food coma after Thanksgiving dinner.

  We all sat on the sofa in a food coma after Thanksgiving dinner.

• I shouldn't have eaten that entire burger; I'm in a total food coma now.

  I shouldn't have eaten that entire burger; I'm in a total food coma now.

• Avoid eating heavy lunches at work if you want to avoid the afternoon food coma.

  Avoid eating heavy lunches at work if you want to avoid the afternoon food coma.

• A quick nap is the only cure for a severe food coma.

  A quick nap is the only cure for a severe food coma.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am having a food coma.

  ✓ I am in a food coma.

  We typically use the prepositions 'in' (to be in a food coma) or 'fall into' rather than 'having' when describing this physical state.

• ✗ That heavy lunch made me a food coma.

  ✓ That heavy lunch put me into a food coma.

  The meal doesn't turn you into a coma; it 'puts you into' or 'gives you' a food coma.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Every Thanksgiving, the whole family ends up in a ___ on the couch.

  💡 A state of extreme sleepiness after a big meal.

  Show answer

  food coma

• I need some coffee to get me out of this afternoon ___.

  💡 The drowsiness caused by eating a heavy lunch.

  Show answer

  food coma