Meaning
To eat a very large amount of food until one is completely full.
Cultural Background
The 'Matanza' (traditional pig slaughter) is a historical context where people would 'hincharse a comer' fresh meat and sausages because there was no refrigeration. During 'Día de Muertos', families prepare 'ofrendas' with the favorite foods of the deceased, but the living certainly 'se hinchan a comer' pan de muerto and tamales. The 'Asado' is the ultimate 'hincharse' scenario. It's common to spend an entire Sunday afternoon eating various cuts of meat. The figure of the 'Abuela' who constantly offers more food is a universal trope. Refusing her food by saying 'me he hinchado' is often the only way to stop the flow of dishes.
Use it for other things!
You can say 'me hinché a trabajar' (I worked like crazy) or 'me hinché a reír' (I laughed so much). It's a very versatile pattern.
Watch the register
Don't use this with your boss unless you have a very close, casual relationship. It's quite graphic about your stomach!
Meaning
To eat a very large amount of food until one is completely full.
Use it for other things!
You can say 'me hinché a trabajar' (I worked like crazy) or 'me hinché a reír' (I laughed so much). It's a very versatile pattern.
Watch the register
Don't use this with your boss unless you have a very close, casual relationship. It's quite graphic about your stomach!
The 'Abuela' Rule
In Spain, saying 'me he hinchado' is often seen as a compliment to the cook. It means you loved the food so much you couldn't stop.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'hincharse a comer'.
En la cena de ayer, mis amigos y yo _______ de tanto que había.
We need the reflexive 'nos' for 'mis amigos y yo' and the preposition 'a'.
Which situation is most appropriate for using 'hincharse a comer'?
Select the best context:
The phrase is informal and social, perfect for a family BBQ.
What would the second person say?
A: ¿Quieres postre? B: No, gracias. ________.
The person is currently full from the meal they just finished, so the present perfect 'me he hinchado' is most natural.
Match the Spanish idiom with its English equivalent.
Match these:
While 'estar lleno' is the literal state, 'hincharse a comer' captures the informal action of overeating.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Levels of Fullness
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEn la cena de ayer, mis amigos y yo _______ de tanto que había.
We need the reflexive 'nos' for 'mis amigos y yo' and the preposition 'a'.
Select the best context:
The phrase is informal and social, perfect for a family BBQ.
A: ¿Quieres postre? B: No, gracias. ________.
The person is currently full from the meal they just finished, so the present perfect 'me he hinchado' is most natural.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
While 'estar lleno' is the literal state, 'hincharse a comer' captures the informal action of overeating.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot among friends or family. It's a very normal, expressive way to talk about a good meal. Just avoid it in formal settings.
Yes, 'hincharse a beber' is common, but it often implies drinking a lot of water or soda. For alcohol, 'hincharse a cervezas' works too.
'Atiborrarse' sounds a bit more like you were stuffing food in quickly or greedily. 'Hincharse' is more about the final state of being full.
Both are used. 'A' is more common in Spain for the action of eating. 'De' is used more with nouns (hincharse de comida).
Usually no. It's often used with a sense of satisfaction, though it can be used to complain about a stomach ache.
Yes, it's understood everywhere, though some countries might prefer 'atiborrarse' or 'llenarse'.
Yes, it means to inflate a tire or a balloon. It also means to annoy someone (informal: 'me estás hinchando las narices').
Use the future: 'Me voy a hinchar a comer'.
There isn't a direct 'idiom' for eating very little, but you could say 'picar' (to nibble) or 'comer como un pajarito' (to eat like a little bird).
Yes, especially in contemporary Spanish novels to add a touch of realism and colloquial flavor.
Related Phrases
Ponerse las botas
synonymTo eat very well and in abundance.
Atiborrarse
similarTo stuff oneself.
Ponerse morado
synonymTo eat until one turns purple.
Comer como un lima
similarTo eat a lot (like a file/rasp).
Quedarse con hambre
contrastTo still be hungry after eating.
