cry cupboard
English
Verb
cry cupboard (third-person singular simple present cries cupboard, present participle crying cupboard, simple past and past participle cried cupboard)
- (archaic, idiomatic) To want or need food; to show signs of hunger.
- 1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “Dialogue II”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, OCLC 181801198, page 119:
- Footman. Madam, Dinner's upon the Table.
Col. Faith, I am glad of it; my Belly began to cry Cupboard.
- 1822 May 21, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Dolph Heyliger”, in Bracebridge Hall, or The Humourists. A Medley. […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], OCLC 1141021983, page 283:
- Let's see what prog we have for supper; the kettle has boiled long enough; my stomach cries cupboard; and I'll warrant our guest is in no mood to dally with his trencher.
- c. 1834, Robert Seymour, Seymour's Humorous Sketches, A Day's Sport:
- I'm rayther peckish — my stomick's bin a-crying cupboard for a hour past.
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References
- cupboard in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913