the munchies

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralinformalslang

   A sudden strong urge to eat snacks, often after using marijuana.

   Grammar: Always used with 'the' and a plural verb: The munchies make you want chips.

   Patterns

   • get the munchies
   • have the munchies
   • the munchies hit someone

   After smoking, he got the munchies and ate a whole bag of chips.

   The munchies usually hit me late at night.

   She keeps snacks in her desk for when the munchies strike.

2. 2nounpluralinformal

   A general feeling of hunger, especially for snack food.

   Grammar: Used in the same way as the first sense, but without any connection to drugs.

   Patterns

   • have the munchies
   • get the munchies

   I've had the munchies all afternoon, so I bought some popcorn.

   The kids came home from school with the munchies.

Common combinations

get the munchies

I always get the munchies when I watch movies.

have the munchies

Do you have the munchies? There's leftover pizza.

the munchies hit

The munchies hit around midnight, so we ordered fries.

smoke and get the munchies

They smoked and got the munchies, then cleaned out the fridge.

Synonyms and how they differ

hunger

A neutral, general word for needing food; 'the munchies' is informal and suggests snacks, not a full meal.

appetite

A more formal word for wanting food in general; 'the munchies' is specifically a craving for snacks.

Word family

munch verb

To eat something steadily, often noisily; 'the munchies' comes from this verb.

munchy adjective

Informal: suitable for snacking, as in 'munchy food'.

Commonly confused: the munchies or munchkin?

Practice

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