“I Could Murder (A Food or Drink)” Meaning
When we say “I could murder (a certain food or drink)” we mean that we have a strong craving or desire for that particular food or drink. The idiom also indicates that one is very hungry or thirsty and thus would eat the food or drink the beverage quickly, aggressively, with enthusiasm, and in large amounts.
“Murder” can be used alone to mean “eat quickly and aggressively” as in “Steve murdered two cheeseburgers and two chocolate shakes and still had room for more.”
Sentence Examples
“I could murder a good cheeseburger right now.”
“Man it’s hot out here. I could murder a big glass of iced tea!”
“Snails are nasty but I’m so hungry I could murder almost anything right now.”
“I’ve been off sweets for two weeks. I could totally murder a piece of chocolate cake right now.”
“Well Derrick was hungry. He just murdered two pizzas by himself.”
Origin of “I Could Murder (A Food/Drink)
The use of “murder” to mean devour completely and aggressively is probably related to other similar uses of the term to mean “ruin, destroy, spoil, etc.” It suggests that not only will a person eat a food or consume a drink, but will do so with a lack of decorum.
Similar Idioms and Related Expressions
I Could Eat a Horse: I am extremely hungry.
Wasting Away: a humorously exaggerated way of expression hunger.
Wolf/Chow Down: to eat quickly and enthusiastically.
Eat Like a Bird: to eat very little or to eat very small portions.
Eat Like A Horse: to eat a large amount of food or to have a very large appetite.
Eat and Run: to eat a meal or a snack quickly and then immediately leave.
Have a Sweet Tooth: to very much enjoy eating sugary foods.
Stick to Your Ribs: to be filling or substantial or to food that keeps you from being hungry again quickly.
I’m Famished/Starving/Ravenous: extremely hungry.
I’m Peckish: slightly hungry.