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There is an Urdu idiom, آنکھوں کا بھوکا, which literally translates to hungry of eyes.

It's used to describe someone who takes more food than they can eat- someone's who's greedy.

For example, we might say that Ali is hungry of eyes.

How would I say that in English?

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3 Answers 3

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You could say his eyes are bigger than his stomach.

Somebody's eyes are bigger than their belly/stomach: something that you say when someone has taken more food than they can eat.

[Cambridge English dictionary]

Example: Ali's eyes are bigger than his stomach.

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@DecapitatedSoul has already provided the best possible answer, but I'll still offer up bite off more than one can chew. From M-W:

bite off more than one can chew: to undertake more than one can handle

This applies to virtually any activity, including eating. In the latter case, it is a bit of a double entendre. I have often used it myself when I've ordered or taken more food than I can eat. It works well served with a wry smile.

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    Ironically, it's seldom used to actually talk about food
    – Kevin
    May 15, 2020 at 16:35
  • @Kevin It is ironic, but I have often used it myself when I've ordered or taken more food than I can eat.It works well served with a wry smile. May 15, 2020 at 16:38
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    The original example implied greed and (to an extent) hoarding, but I've only heard this particular idiom used to denote over-confidence or getting onseself into a situation where they cannot succeed. May 17, 2020 at 16:20
  • @RoddyoftheFrozenPeas The original example implied greed only in the limited sense of taking more food than one can eat. No implication of hoarding except in the limited sense of one-off monopolization of food offerings. I agree that biting off more than one can chew usually denotes taking on more than one can handle, but that can certainly apply to eating, too. And then, as I said, biting off more than one can chew results in an amusing double entendre. May 17, 2020 at 16:34
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In Glasgow we say: "Ali, ya eyne is bigger then ya belly!"

My Pakistani friends use it too, although they speak as much Urdu as English, well Scot's Urdo at this point. :)

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