whet sb\'s appetite

The phrase whet sb\'s appetite is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of whet sb\'s appetite.

Meaning of "whet sb\'s appetite"

Meaning

The idiom "whet someone's appetite" is used to describe an experience, activity or event that is pleasurable or stimulating in some way, and which increases the enthusiasm or interest of the person for that experience, activity or event.

Etymology

The phrase "whet someone's appetite" can be traced back to the 16th century and has its origin in the Latin word seta, which means "an iron for whetting blades or scythes." This word was later anglicized to whet and was used in English, particularly in the context of sharpening tools. The expression was eventually expanded to include the figurative sense of "sharpening" someone’s interest in something.

Usage

The expression is used to describe an experience, activity or event that piques the interest of the person involved. This can be a physical activity, such as skateboarding or playing a sport, or an abstract concept, such as reading a book or learning a new skill. The expression can also be used to describe a pleasurable experience, such as a delicious meal or a beautiful view, or a stimulating event, such as attending a concert or going to a movie.

Example Sentences

• The delicious smell of freshly baked bread from the local bakery always seems to whet my appetite.
• The anticipation of what our holiday destination would be like certainly whetted our appetites for the journey.
• The instructor's enthusiasm for the subject certainly whetted our appetite for learning.

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.