English idiom

piping hot

Register · Neutral CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

Extremely hot, especially when describing freshly cooked food.

Word picture

The food is pictured so hot that it seems to pipe or hiss as steam rises from it.

Example

“The waiter brought us bowls of piping hot tomato soup.”

Dictionary details

Component words

hot

Tags

food

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

sell like hot cakes

to be bought rapidly and in great numbers because many people want it

hot under the collar

noticeably irritated or angry

have a sweet tooth

To have a strong liking for sugary food.

someone's bread and butter

the main source of someone's income or basic work

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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