so hungry that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'so hungry that' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that somebody has an extremely hungry feeling and needs to eat. For example: I'm so hungry that I could eat a horse.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was cold and so hungry that he sometimes ate toothpaste and chewed scraps of newspaper.

The New York Times - Health

We soon got so hungry that we were allowed to buy flour and made bread ourselves.

Independent

They told us of being so hungry that food has become a commodity traded for sex.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was so hungry that he ate the grass by the roadside.

The Guardian - Books

At night the unfortunate man is so hungry that he breaks into the house and steals some food.

The New Yorker

In one, a sheepherder said he became so hungry that he ate part of a rotting elk carcass.

The New York Times

Watson remembers getting so hungry that he ate packets of ketchup and butter that he found in a canteen.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was so hungry that I was eating my own fingernails, swallowing all the little pieces," Alvarenga later told me.

The Guardian

Ani Pachen told how she was so hungry that she would rejoice when she found a worm in the soil.

The New York Times

Story has it that the woman was so hungry that, there and then, she ate it raw.

The Guardian - Arts

Although study guidelines called for stringent dietary restrictions, the subjects got so hungry that one of them picked the lock on the food closet.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so hungry that" to vividly describe the intensity of hunger and its subsequent effects or actions. It helps create a strong connection with the audience by illustrating the extremity of the situation.

Common error

While effective, "so hungry that" can become repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and vocabulary to maintain reader engagement. Try using synonyms like "famished" or "ravenous" or rephrasing to describe the feeling of hunger in a unique way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so hungry that" functions as an adverbial intensifier followed by a causal clause. It amplifies the adjective "hungry" to such a degree that it results in a specific consequence. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so hungry that" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to depict extreme hunger and its effects. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. It functions as an adverbial intensifier followed by a causal clause, emphasizing the intensity of hunger and its consequences. While versatile, consider using synonyms to avoid repetition. Predominantly found in news and media, it maintains a neutral register. By understanding its purpose and context, you can effectively employ "so hungry that" to create impactful and descriptive sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely hungry that

Replaces "so" with "extremely", intensifying the hunger.

so famished that

Substitutes "hungry" with "famished", implying a more severe state of hunger.

so ravenous that

Replaces "hungry" with "ravenous", suggesting a wild or voracious hunger.

so starved that

Emphasizes the deprivation aspect of hunger.

to be so hungry as to

Rephrases the sentence structure for a more formal tone.

with such intense hunger that

Focuses on the intensity of the hunger experienced.

in such a state of hunger that

Uses a more descriptive and elaborate way to express extreme hunger.

driven by hunger to the point that

Highlights the driving force of hunger and its impact.

so peckish that

Replaces "hungry" with "peckish", implying a less intense hunger

so empty that

Metaphorically describes the feeling of extreme hunger as emptiness.

FAQs

How can I use "so hungry that" in a sentence?

The phrase "so hungry that" is used to emphasize the intensity of hunger and its effects. For example, "I was "so hungry that" I could eat a horse" or "The refugees were "so hungry that" they were scavenging for scraps of food".

What are some alternatives to "so hungry that"?

Alternatives include "extremely hungry that", "so famished that", or "so ravenous that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "so hungry that"?

Yes, "so hungry that" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. It follows the standard structure of "so + adjective + that + clause" to indicate a consequence of the adjective.

What is the difference between "so hungry that" and "very hungry"?

"Very hungry" simply indicates a high degree of hunger. "So hungry that" implies a consequence or action resulting from the extreme hunger. For example, you might be very hungry, but if you're "so hungry that" you can't concentrate, it indicates a more intense state.