eat (one's) own dog food
1. To use the product(s) one's company produces or develops as a means of demonstrating or validating its quality, capabilities, or superiority to other brands. Used primarily in reference to software industries, the phrase is thought to have originated with advertisements for Alpo dog food in the 1980s, in which actor Lorne Green promoted the product by pointing out that he fed it to his own dogs. The company sent out a memo to all of its employees telling them to eat their own dog food to demonstrate their new operating system's speed and ease of use.
2. By extension, to use software one's company is developing—usually in its beta form—so as to test it for flaws and ensure its ease of use by end users before it is released. We didn't have time to eat our own dog food before the new operating system's release, so I'm worried it may still have a lot of glitches that haven't been accounted for yet.
dogfood
1. To use the product(s) one's company produces or develops as a means of demonstrating or validating its quality, capabilities, or superiority to other brands. Used primarily in reference to software industries, the phrase is thought to have originated with advertisements for Alpo dog food in the 1980s, in which actor Lorne Green promoted the product by pointing out that he fed it to his own dogs. The company sent out a memo to all of its employees telling them to dogfood their new operating system to demonstrate its speed and ease of use to the public. The company has a strict policy of dogfooding their website's own messenger system rather than traditional email, much to the consternation of some employees.
2. By extension, to use software one's company is developing—usually in its beta form—so as to test it for flaws and ensure its ease of use by end users before it is released. We didn't have time to dogfood the new operating system before its release, so I'm worried it may still have a lot of glitches that haven't been accounted for yet.
at the bottom of the food chain
At or occupying the position of least importance or influence in a social, corporate, or political hierarchy. As an intern, you're always at the bottom of the food chain, so be prepared to do whatever anyone else tells you to do.
at the top of the food chain
At or occupying the position of most importance or influence in a social, corporate, or political hierarchy. Some high school seniors revel in the fact that they are now at the top of the food chain, using their newfound and largely imaginary authority to boss around younger students.
put food on the table
To earn enough money to provide the basic necessities for oneself and (often) one's family. With my hours at work being cut so dramatically, I just don't know how I'll be able to put food on the table. At the end of the day, as long as I'm putting food on the table, I don't care what kind of career I have.
food baby
A large and/or protruding stomach (thought to resemble a pregnant belly) after one has eaten a big meal. Don't take any pictures right now, my stomach is huge! I totally have a food baby!
food chain
1. A hierarchy of organisms that transfer food energy between them. The smallest organisms are at the bottom—and they are preyed upon by the larger ones above them in the food chain. Grizzly bears are at the top of the food chain.
2. A hierarchy of people in a group or organization. Often used in the phrases "at the top of the food chain" and "at the bottom of the food chain." As a medical intern, I'm at the bottom of the food chain, but I'll move up soon enough. It will take a while to move up the food chain in such a large company, but you'll make manager soon enough.
food for worms
A dead person. You better drive more carefully, unless you want to be food for worms!
superfood
A food that is hailed as exceptionally nutritious. I know kale is a superfood, but I just can't force myself to eat it.
flavor food with something
to season a food with something. He flavors his gravy with a little sage. Can you flavor the soup with a little less pepper next time?
food for thought
Fig. something for someone to think about; issues to be considered. Your essay has provided me with some interesting food for thought. My adviser gave me some food for thought about job opportunities.
starve for some food
to be very hungry for something. I am just starved for some fresh peaches. We were starved for dinner by the time we finally got to eat.
*to go
1. [of a purchase of cooked food] to be taken elsewhere to be eaten. (*Typically: buy some food ~; get some food ~; have some food ~; order some food ~.) Let's stop here and buy six hamburgers to go. I didn't thaw anything for dinner. Let's stop off on the way home and get something to go.
2. [of a number or an amount] remaining; yet to be dealt with. I finished with two of them and have four to go.
food for thought
An idea or issue to ponder, as in That interesting suggestion of yours has given us food for thought. This metaphoric phrase, transferring the idea of digestion from the stomach to mulling something over in the mind, dates from the late 1800s, although the idea was also expressed somewhat differently at least three centuries earlier.
junk food
Prepackaged snack food that is high in calories but low in nutritional value; also, anything attractive but negligible in value. For example, Nell loves potato chips and other junk food, or When I'm sick in bed I often resort to TV soap operas and similar junk food. [c. 1970]