Eaten out of house and home
Eaten out of house and home means left struggling to provide food because someone eats so much, usually said with comic exaggeration; the phrase appears in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2, where Mistress Quickly complains about Falstaff’s unpaid bills.
Where it comes from
Mistress Quickly’s complaint
The phrase appears in Shakespeare’s play as a complaint about a guest whose appetite and unpaid debts have become a serious burden.
In Henry IV, Part 2, Mistress Quickly tries to have Falstaff arrested for what he owes her. She explains that providing for him has used up her resources.
In Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
A household joke today
Today the phrase often describes hungry children, visiting relatives, or guests who empty the cupboards. It usually suggests an expensive appetite, not the actual loss of a home.
Falstaff’s dependence on Mistress Quickly in Henry IV, Part 2 gives the complaint a sharper edge than a modern joke about hungry visitors: she is trying to recover a real debt.
In Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
How to use Eaten out of house and home
- Use it for someone whose appetite makes feeding them a burden.
- Keep the tone light when describing family or guests.
- Choose plainer words when discussing serious hunger or debt.
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Does it mean someone has actually lost their house?
No, it usually means that someone is eating a great deal of another person’s food. The threatened loss of a home is generally an exaggeration, though Mistress Quickly’s complaint in Henry IV, Part 2 involves genuine financial trouble.
Is the phrase rude?
It can sound rude if it makes a guest feel unwelcome, but it is often affectionate teasing. Tone and circumstances matter: a cheerful remark about hungry teenagers feels different from a pointed complaint directed at someone who cannot afford their own food.
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