We all know that when travelling we are likely to eat a lot of food, often good food, especially if we stay in someone else’s home. Sometimes it is hard to say ‘no’ to food your host is giving you because you don’t want to be impolite. Food is an important part of every culture and it is one way we share our culture and our love, but when you are done eating you shouldn’t have to stuff yourself just to be polite.

In America, at least, it is okay to let a host know that you have had enough to eat and you don’t want anymore. This isn’t rude.  You won’t offend anyone by saying ‘no thank you’ to another bowl of soup or piece of cake.

There are a number of ways in English you can let someone know that you are full. Learning these different expressions is a good idea before you are invited over to someone’s house for a meal, so that you do not feel like you have to eat everything that is presented to you and so you can let people know when you are done eating.

Simple ways of saying ‘I’m done eating’ in English:

I’m full.

I’m stuffed.

 

Other good ways to say ‘I’m done eating’ in English:

Thank you, I couldn’t eat another bite.  It was all so good!

I couldn’t eat another bite I am so full/stuffed.

Everything was so delicious I am completely full.

I have had more than enough already, I just can’t eat any more.

 

Here are few contextual conversations for you to see how these expressions might be used.

 

A: Jill do you want a piece of pie?

B: Oh thank you, but no, I couldn’t eat another bite. I am so full.

 

C: Andrew, let me serve you some more turkey.

D: I have had more than enough already, thank you. I just can’t eat anymore.

 

E: Betsy, did you like the fish, let me give you some more?

F: Oh thank you, but I am stuffed.

 

You may notice in each of these conversations, no matter what expression is used to express that you are done eating, the words ‘thank you’ are also always used when declining any more food. American’s tend to say thank you, to be polite, when refusing something. In English it is almost never a bad idea to include ‘thank you’ when someone is offering you something whether you accept it or not.