1. Home
2. Idioms
3. supper

supper

---

---

Last Supper

1. The last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, which some Christians believe instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. Usually capitalized in this usage. We celebrate the Last Supper by going to Mass on Holy Thursday.

2. The last meal before something significant. A: "Thanks for coming to my last supper." B: "Oh, stop! I'm sure your surgery tomorrow will go fine." I can't believe this is my last supper as a single guy!

See also: last, supper

Lord's Supper

1. Another term for the Last Supper, the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, which Christians believe instituted the sacrament of Eucharist. We celebrate the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.

2. The sacrament of Eucharist. Now that you've made your First Holy Communion, you can receive the Lord's Supper during Mass.

See also: supper

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

Prov. It is good to start the day feeling hopeful, but if none of the things you hope for come to pass by the end of the day, you will feel disappointed. (Can be used to warn someone against hoping for something that is unlikely to happen.) Lisa began the day hoping that she would find work, and by the end of the day she had learned that hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

See also: bad, breakfast, but, good, hope, supper

shoot one's cookies

 and shoot one's breakfast; shoot one's supper

Sl. to empty one's stomach; to vomit. I think I'm gonna shoot my cookies. I shot my supper, and I was glad to get rid of it.

See also: cooky, shoot

sing before breakfast, you'll cry before night

 and sing before breakfast, you'll cry before supper

Prov. If you wake up feeling very happy, your mood will change before the end of the day. Jill: I woke up in such a good mood today. I don't even know why, but everything seems good. Jane: Sing before breakfast, you'll cry before night. Alan: Good morning, dear! Isn't it a wonderful day? I feel great. Jane: Sing before breakfast, you'll cry before supper.

See also: before, cry, night, sing

sing for your supper

  (old-fashioned)

to do something for someone else in order to receive something in return, especially food Dan's upstairs fixing my computer - I'm making him sing for his supper.

See also: sing, supper

sing for one's supper

Work for one's pay or reward, as in Entertaining visiting scientists is part of the job; you know I have to sing for my supper . This metaphoric term alludes to wandering minstrels who performed in taverns and were paid with a meal. First recorded in 1609, it gained currency with the familiar nursery rhyme, "Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper" (c. 1744).

See also: sing, supper

shoot one’s cookies

and shoot one’s breakfast and shoot one’s supper

tv. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. I shot my supper, and I was glad to get rid of it. Whoa! I think I’m gonna shoot my cookies!

See also: cooky, shoot

shoot one’s supper

verb

See shoot one’s cookies

See also: shoot, supper