Sweet English Idioms: Learn popular expressions about sweets and sugar

Idioms are a big part of everyday English, and many involve food. In this lesson, you’ll learn popular English expressions about sweets and sugar that people often use in daily conversations.

Each expression comes with simple meanings and easy examples to help you understand and use them confidently. There’s also a short quiz to check what you’ve learned.

Learning idioms will help you sound more natural and understand native speakers better. Let’s get started and explore some sweet English expressions! How many of these do you know?

Sweet phrases and idioms

Have a sweet tooth

Meaning: To like eating sweet food very much.

Examples:
I have a sweet tooth, so I always order dessert.
She has a sweet tooth and eats chocolate every day.

In your own sweet time

Meaning: When someone does something slowly, often making others wait.

Examples:
He finished the project in his own sweet time.
Don’t worry, she’ll answer your message in her own sweet way.

Sugarcoat (verb)

Meaning: To make something sound nicer or less serious than it really is.

Examples:
The teacher didn’t sugarcoat the results. The test was difficult.
He tried to sugarcoat the bad news, but everyone understood the problem.

Sweet spot (noun)

Meaning: The best or most effective point or situation.

Examples:
This shirt is the sweet spot between price and quality.
She found the sweet spot where she could work and travel at the same time.

The icing on the cake

Meaning: Something extra that makes a good situation even better.

Examples:
The trip was amazing, and the sunny weather was the icing on the cake.
Getting a promotion and a pay rise was the icing on the cake.

Like taking candy from a baby

Meaning: Very easy to do.

Examples:
The exam was easy. It was like taking candy from a baby.
Playing him at tennis is  like taking candy from a baby. He’s not a good player.

Eye candy (noun)

Meaning: Someone or something that is very attractive to look at but not very important.

Examples:
The actor is just eye candy in the movie.
The product needs to work as well as look good. It can’t only be eye candy.

Take the biscuit

Meaning: Used to say something is very surprising, annoying, or the worst.

Examples:
She arrived two hours late. That really takes the biscuit!
He’s often rude, but they way he spoke to me today really takes the biscuit.

That’s the way the cookie crumbles

Meaning: Used to say that things happen and we must accept them.

Examples:
We lost the match, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
I was hoping to get the last concert ticket, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Sweet idioms quiz

Now try this quiz. How many can you get right?

1. If someone has a sweet tooth, they…
   A. Like healthy food
   B. Like eating sweet food
   C. Don’t eat sugar
   D. Only eat fruit

2. If someone does something in their own sweet time, they…
   A. Do it quickly
   B. Do it slowly
   C. Do it with help
   D. Do it at night

3. To sugarcoat something means to…
   A. Make it sound nicer
   B. Make it worse
   C. Make it shorter
   D. Make it more serious

4. A sweet spot is…
   A. A place to eat dessert
   B. The best point or situation
   C. A difficult problem
   D. A boring place

5. The icing on the cake is…
   A. Something extra that makes things better
   B. A problem
   C. A small mistake
   D. A surprise that is bad

6. If something is like taking candy from a baby, it is…
   A. Very dangerous
   B. Very easy
   C. Very slow
   D. Very expensive

7. Eye candy is…
   A. Healthy food
   B. Something expensive
   C. Something or someone attractive but not important
   D. A type of dessert

8. If something takes the biscuit, it is…
   A. Very funny
   B. Very normal
   C. Very surprising or annoying
   D. Very easy

9. If you say that’s the way the cookie crumbles, you mean…
   A. You are very happy
   B. You accept the situation
   C. You are angry
   D. You don’t understand

Show Answers

Question1: B

Question 2: B

Question 3: A

Question 4: B

Question 5: A

Question 6: B

Question 7: C

Question 8: C

Question 9: B