whet one's appetite

1. Arouse one's interest or eagerness, as in That first Schubert piece whetted my appetite; I hope she sings some others. This idiom, first recorded in 1612, transfers making one hungry for food to other kinds of eagerness.

Example Sentences

The anatomy of Tipton-Martin’s cookbook weaves through one that might be familiar to anyone who has had to conceptualize a meal from beginning to end — light bites or appetizers to whet one’s appetite, hot or cold drinks with alcohol or sans; soups and salads, main entrees; meat, seafood and sweet treats to wrap up the meal.

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Looking like something died atop two pucks of fried goat cheese, petals of shriveled beet chips do little to whet one’s appetite.

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But whether to whet one’s appetite for the show or just to savor the genius of the protean Guinness, it would be no crime to also take in “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” which is available on DVD and streaming platforms.

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Don’t hide, nor keep your shops closed, as that would only whet one’s appetite for mischief.

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Never a loose Lady tripping through the Park to whet one's Appetite this Morning?

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