Coffee Idioms and What They Mean
Coffee idioms are fun ways to talk about waking up, taking breaks, or facing the truth. These expressions come from our love of coffee and the way it makes us feel. Here are 6 coffee idioms, what they mean, and how to use them.
Wake up and smell the coffee
Realize what is really happening; face the truth.
Wake up and smell the coffee—he’s never going to change.
She needs to wake up and smell the coffee and stop ignoring the problem.
Coffee break
A short rest from work, often with a cup of coffee.
Let’s take a coffee break and come back in 10 minutes.
I always feel better after a quick coffee break.
Full of beans
Very full of energy and active.
The kids are full of beans this morning!
After her coffee, she was full of beans and ready to work.
Perk up
To feel more awake or happy, often after coffee.
He perked up after his first cup of coffee.
A little music can perk you up when you’re tired.
Caffeine fix
The cup of coffee you need to feel more awake.
I can’t start my day without my caffeine fix.
She stopped at the café for her morning caffeine fix.
Grounds for something
A reason or cause for action (play on “coffee grounds”).
There were grounds for complaint after the poor service.
He had no grounds for getting angry—it wasn’t her fault.
