English

Alternative forms

• have eyes bigger than one's belly (UK)
• one's eyes are bigger than one's stomach

Verb

have eyes bigger than one's stomach ‎(third-person singular simple present has eyes bigger than one's stomach, present participle having eyes bigger than one's stomach, simple past and past participle had eyes bigger than one's stomach)

1. (idiomatic) To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.

   He has eyes bigger than his stomach.

   You have eyes bigger than your stomach.

2. (idiomatic) To want more than one can handle.
   • 2010, Veechi Curtis, Lynley Averis, Bookkeeping For Dummies, page 75:

     When choosing software, don't have eyes bigger than your stomach. Rather, stick to whatever level of software you need, and no more.

Translations

See also

• bite off more than one can chew