Meaning & Origin

“Hungry as a bear” is a vivid simile for being very hungry — comparing someone’s appetite to a bear’s, especially after hibernation. It’s common in everyday speech and children’s books for strong emphasis.

Pronunciation Guide

• hungry — HUN‑gree.
• as a — often reduced to “uhz uh.”
• bear — rhymes with “air.”
• Natural rhythm: HUN‑gry as a BEAR.

Usage & Sentence Examples

Use it to emphasize strong hunger in casual conversation.

• The kids are hungry as bears after soccer practice.
• I skipped breakfast and now I’m hungry as a bear.
• He came home hungry as a bear and raided the fridge.
• By noon we were hungry as bears and ready for lunch.
• She’s hungry as a bear after her swim meet.
• Let’s order extra — everyone’s hungry as a bear.

Synonyms

ravenous · starving (informal) · famished · could eat a horse (idiom) · peckish (milder) · hungry as a horse