food coma

[ food koh-muh ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a state of drowsiness or lethargy brought on by eating a heavy meal or food high in carbohydrates:

   As happens when you eat a giant portion of lasagna and a cheesecake, the food coma smacked me like a commuter train.

Word History and Origins

Origin of food coma¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

The assortment of fried, smothered, pickled or barbecued options guide your steps into the gentlest of food comas.

From Los Angeles Times

In Cairo, the streets are decked with colorful Ramadan lanterns, bakeries are hawking holiday sweets and television networks are promoting prime-time soap operas, hoping to capitalize on nightly food comas.

From Seattle Times

Day 2 unfolded groggily at first, a consequence of a lingering food coma.

From Seattle Times

We ate ourselves into a happy food coma but still possessed enough energy to buy a couple of treats for the road.

From Washington Post

We would eat so much, a food coma was inevitable and all of us would end up lying down on their carpet.

From Fox News