starving like

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "starving like" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in informal contexts to emphasize extreme hunger, often in a simile comparing one's hunger to that of someone who is starving. Example: "After skipping breakfast and lunch, I felt like I was starving like a beggar on the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Cubans are not starving like North Koreans, but many do lack basic consumer goods.

The New Yorker

Starving like you'd have no idea".

BBC

It gives me perspective (in that we're not starving like some in the world or missing three limbs).

Huffington Post

I wasn't starving like the children in Ethiopia whose gaunt faces and bloated bellies haunted me while some starlet's voice asked for us to please spare what would amount to a dollar a day to save a child's life.

Huffington Post

And on April 12, starving like everyone else, she notes that prisoners in the ghetto born in 1926 or 1927 were being allowed to report for a longer work detail that would yield extra food rations.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

("I seriously need to get some eggs before I starve like an African child. Even if its not possible. In Sweden we have great social security").

The New Yorker

Yearly trips like this have become something of a manly rite for the Richs, modeled after expeditions they took as boys at Camp Winnebago in Fayette, Me. "Without him in the back of a canoe I would literally get lost and starve like a beast in the woods," Simon said of Nathaniel.

The New York Times

Its a sandbox - like Minecraft, like Don't Starve, like Stranded Deep.

Huffington Post

Everyone may be dressed as movie stars but they don't want to starve like one!

WikiHow

Realize that if you had "starved" like that (after that dangerous surgery) -- then phase 1 diet is only liquids: " Broth, Unsweetened juice, Milk, Strained cream soup, Sugar-free gelatin -- Doctor's Orders! " " for weeks -- safe enough?

WikiHow

He noted that if the labels wanted to help a pay-only service to thrive, they could limit big releases by the likes of Adele or Beyoncé to the one service for a few weeks, thus starving the likes of Spotify and driving people either to pay or pushing them back towards piracy sites.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "starving like" to create vivid comparisons, emphasizing the intensity of hunger or need, but be mindful of the context to avoid trivializing serious situations of actual starvation.

Common error

Avoid using "starving like" to describe mild hunger or cravings. This can diminish the impact and be perceived as insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "starving like" functions as an intensifier in a simile, used to exaggerate the feeling of hunger by comparing it to the extreme state of starvation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "starving like" is a grammatically correct and usable simile employed to exaggerate the feeling of hunger. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While "starving like" can add emphasis, be mindful of context to avoid trivializing serious situations. It's best suited for informal settings like news articles or blog posts, and its usage is more about adding color than conveying literal starvation. Alternatives like "as hungry as a wolf" or "ravenously hungry" can offer similar emphasis with different imagery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as hungry as a wolf

This alternative uses a common simile to express extreme hunger, similar to "starving like" but with different imagery.

ravenously hungry

Replaces "starving like" with an adverb that emphasizes the intensity of hunger.

in a state of extreme hunger

This option is a more formal and descriptive way to convey the same meaning as "starving like".

famished to the point of weakness

Highlights the debilitating effect of hunger, similar to the implication of "starving like".

feeling severely deprived of food

Focuses on the feeling of deprivation, echoing the sense of lacking sustenance in "starving like".

dying of hunger

This is a more dramatic and literal way to express extreme hunger, similar in intensity to "starving like".

suffering from severe food deprivation

A more clinical way of describing the condition of being "starving like", emphasizing the suffering.

on the brink of starvation

Suggests being very close to the state of starvation, similar to the implication of "starving like".

as peckish as a person who hasn't eaten for days

Implies a level of hunger derived from the lack of food intake over a prolonged period.

like a castaway

Invokes the image of someone stranded and without resources, which implies extreme hunger similar to "starving like".

FAQs

How can I use "starving like" in a sentence?

You can use "starving like" to emphasize extreme hunger by comparing it to someone who is actually starving. For example, "After hiking all day, I felt like I was "starving like" someone lost in the desert".

What are some alternatives to "starving like"?

Alternatives include "as hungry as a wolf", "ravenously hungry", or "in a state of extreme hunger" depending on the desired tone and context.

Is it appropriate to use "starving like" in all situations?

No, it is important to use "starving like" judiciously. Overusing the phrase or using it in trivial situations can diminish its impact and may be seen as insensitive, especially when discussing real instances of starvation.

What's the difference between "starving like" and "hungry"?

"Hungry" is a general term for feeling a need for food. "Starving like" implies a much more extreme level of hunger, bordering on desperation, and is often used for emphasis or dramatic effect.