hungry like a wolf

USAGE SUMMARY

"hungry like a wolf" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is very hungry or eager for something. Example: After skipping breakfast, he felt hungry like a wolf by lunchtime. Alternative expressions include "starving like a beast" and "ravenous as a lion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts & Entertainment

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Sly as a fox," "gentle as a lamb," "hungry like a wolf," the exhibition points out, are phrases showing how often we "interpret animal behavior in human terms" and "draw moral conclusions".

The New York Times - Arts

Both watches are probably wildly expensive but man if I'm not hungry like a wolf for them.

TechCrunch

She christened the 1999 incentive plan "Hungry Like A Wolf," and could be heard howling in the hallways when a sales rep nailed a deal.

Forbes

Hungry Like A Wolf: McCain put out an ad depicting Obama's oppo-researchers as hungry wolves going after Gov. Sarah Palin.

Huffington Post

From his taped interviews to his attitude during the critiques, Cook seemed to be playing it super cool, as if he were suddenly above it all rather than hungry like a wolf to win it all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A three-time Emmy winner as the amoral über-agent on "Entourage," he would be a natural for the hungry-like-a-wolf Charlie.

The New York Times

Cliché is not spurned — time is falling through Knausgaard's hands "like sand"; elsewhere in the book, the author tells us that falling in love was like being struck by lightning, that he was head over heels in love, that he was as hungry as a wolf.

The New Yorker

(So, athletic, smart and loyal-like a wolf!) Clothes.

WikiHow

I could see a decadent, Duran Duran-themed, hungry-like-the-wolf ode to the big '80s.

The New York Times

Ever since he resigned his speakership and House seat in disgrace nearly 12 years ago, Newt Gingrich has prowled the margins of electoral politics like a wolf, hungry and opportunistic.

Los Angeles Times

Hugh Jackman opens the show, ahead of a UK tour that starts in May in which he will perform songs from The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables and hopefully a musical theatre version of Hungry Like the Wolf dressed as Wolverine.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the pop-culture resonance of the phrase; it often brings to mind the 1980s music scene, which can affect the tone of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "hungry like a wolf" in highly formal or technical scientific reports where literal terms like "extremely hungry" or "physiologically deprived" are required. Similes are generally discouraged in objective research.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hungry like a wolf" functions as an adjective phrase using a comparative simile. It typically modifies a noun or follows a linking verb to describe a subject's state. Ludwig AI confirms its validity as a standard English expression, particularly effective for emphasizing intensity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Arts & Entertainment

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hungry like a wolf" is a correct and evocative English simile that effectively denotes extreme eagerness or physical hunger. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase is widely used across high-quality media sources to add descriptive flavor to articles about politics, sports and business. While it is rare in scientific datasets, its cultural impact—partly fueled by 80s pop music—makes it a recognizable and powerful tool for creative and journalistic writing. Writers should use it when they want to convey a sense of predatory ambition or intense need, though they might opt for more literal alternatives in formal academic environments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hungry as a wolf

Uses the alternative comparative preposition 'as' instead of 'like'.

hungry like the wolf

Often used as a direct reference to the famous Duran Duran song title.

ravenous as a wolf

Employs a stronger adjective for increased intensity of hunger.

hungry as a hunter

Humanizes the metaphor while retaining the theme of pursuit and need.

starving like a beast

Swaps the specific animal for a broader, more primal category.

hungry for success

Focuses purely on the metaphorical aspect of ambition.

voracious as a lion

Changes the animal archetype to another apex predator.

keen like a wolf

Focuses on the sharpness of desire rather than physical hunger.

wolfish hunger

Converts the simile into a direct adjective-noun phrase.

eager like a wolf

Emphasizes readiness and anticipation over physical starvation.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "hungry like a wolf"?

To be "hungry like a wolf" means to experience intense physical hunger or to possess a fierce, predatory ambition for a goal. It is a common simile used to show powerful drive.

Which is correct: "hungry like a wolf" or "hungry like the wolf"?

Both are correct. However, "hungry like a wolf" is the standard general simile, while "hungry like the wolf" is most often used when specifically referencing the 1982 Duran Duran song.

What can I say instead of "hungry like a wolf" in a business meeting?

In professional contexts, you might choose more polished alternatives like "highly motivated", "ambitious" or "exceptionally eager".

Is it "hungry as a wolf" or "hungry like a wolf"?

Both are interchangeable similes. "hungry as a wolf" is slightly more traditional in classical literature, whereas "hungry like a wolf" has become more popular in modern pop culture.