A Culinary Conundrum: Feast or Famine
Feast or famine—an evocative phrase that captures the rollercoaster conditions that pendulate between excess and deprivation. The idiom can trace its roots back to Thomas Fuller’s 1732 Gnomologia, where it was initially cited as “either feast or fast.” Transforming over time and eventually absorbing “famine” in America during the twentieth century, this expression remains relevant today, especially for those in irregular, unpredictable careers.
Related Terms and Phrases:
- Boom or bust: This alternate phrase speaks to economic extremes.
- Make hay while the sun shines: Utilize good times to prepare for lean times.
- Peaks and valleys: Describes ups and downs, commonly used to depict market trends.
- Ebb and flow: Referencing the natural cyclic movement, often of economic and emotional states.
Synonyms:
- Overload or underload
- Profusion or paucity
- Glut or shortfall
Antonyms:
- Moderate supply
- Steady stream
See Also:
- Pendulum swing
- Roller coaster of fortunes
- Light and shade
Wit and Wisdom:
“The cynic’s definition of life: a want of food in the midst of abundance, meanly striving to make a feast or a fast.” —Ambrose Bierce
“A wise man prepares for a feast during the good harvest, and sets aside some for times of famine.” —Ancient proverb
Literature, Books, Songs, and Movies:
- Books: “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck—an exploration of feast and famine during the Great Depression.
- Poetry: “Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley—evoking the cycles of change and transformation.
- Songs: “Manic Monday” by The Bangles—highlighting the fluctuating highs and lows of daily life.
- Movies: “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith, illustrating both famine and eventually a well-earned feast.
### Feast or famine originated as which expression?
- [ ] Feast or fighting
- [x] Feast or fast
- [ ] Feast or forage
- [ ] Feast or figure
> **Explanation:** The original version of the expression was "feast or fast," appearing as early as 1732 in Thomas Fuller’s *Gnomologia*.
### What does "boom or bust" typically refer to?
- [ ] Cooking accidents
- [ ] Sports victories
- [x] Economic conditions
- [ ] Clothing styles
> **Explanation:** "Boom or bust" describes economic cycles of rapid growth and sharp decline.
### Which idiom means to take advantage of favorable conditions?
- [ ] Feast or famine
- [x] Make hay while the sun shines
- [ ] Go big or go home
- [ ] Keep your powder dry
> **Explanation:** "Make hay while the sun shines" suggests that one should make the most of a good situation to prepare for future difficulties.
### True or False: “Ebb and flow” narrates a seasonal concept.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. "Ebb and flow" evokes the cyclical movement, often tied to tides, representing the natural rise and fall of various situations.
### Which expression is most similar to "feast or famine"?
- [ ] Hex or flex
- [x] Peaks and valleys
- [ ] Treat or trick
- [ ] Hike or respite
> **Explanation:** "Peaks and valleys" similarly describe alternating periods of high and low.
