food coma
/fuːd ˈkoʊmə/
Very CommonThe heavy, sleepy feeling that hits after eating a very large or rich meal.
Usually used with affection or humor, not as a complaint. Part of the ritual of a good meal.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | i'm in a full food coma, do not contact me until 4pm | The person ate so much they need several hours to recover. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | that birria destroyed me, food coma incoming | A rich, heavy meal is about to cause drowsiness. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | the whole family was in a food coma by 2pm, house completely silent | Everyone fell into post-meal lethargy at the same time. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | took a 2 hour food coma nap and woke up ready for round two | A post-meal nap restored enough energy to eat again. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone ate a large meal and now feels sluggish or drowsy.
- Joking about the crash after a holiday feast.
- Explaining why you need to lie down after eating.
Do not use it when
- You mean an actual medical emergency or loss of consciousness.
- Someone just feels full but is still functional.
Origin and context
Common informal expression in American English. The 'coma' is metaphorical, referencing how sluggish and unresponsive a person feels after a big meal. In wide use by the early 2000s online.
- First seen
- 2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
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https://slang.fyi/food-comaUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0