starve

Related to starve: feed a cold starve a fever

be starving

To be very hungry. Mom, I'm starving! Is dinner almost ready?
See also: starve

feed a cold, starve a fever

proverb Antiquated advice that suggests that someone with a cold should eat, while someone with a fever should fast. Most health experts now agree that "starving" is not the right course for either malady. My grandmother always said "feed a cold, starve a fever," but it's best to stay properly nourished even when you have a high temperature.
See also: feed, fever, starve

starve (one) into (something)

To starve one of food in order to force one to undergo something or perform some task. The secret police starved the prisoner into confessing. The army laid siege to the walled city, eventually starving it into submission.
See also: starve

starve (one) out of (something or some place)

To deprive one of food in order to force one to exit or flee some place. Rather than risking their officers in a gun fight, the police decided to simply starve the criminals out of the building in which they had barricaded themselves. The empire's army began starving the rebels out of the contested city with a siege that lasted nearly three months.
See also: of, out, starve

starve (someone or something) of (something)

To withhold some commodity or resource from someone or something to the detriment of that person or thing. Often used in passive constructions. The authoritarian government has been accused of starving its citizens of essential services in order to maximize how much money can be invested in its military. The hotel has been starved of short-term staff ever since the local college closed. The president, unable to ban the clinics due to the constitution, has instead opted to starve them of funds and impose intense restrictions on how they are allowed to operate.
See also: of, starve

starve a cold, feed a fever

The reverse of the more common axiom "feed a cold, starve a fever," antiquated advice that suggests that someone with a cold should fast, while someone with a fever should eat. Most health experts now agree that "starving" is not the right course for either malady. A: "She has a fever, so I'm making her some soup. You know what they say—starve a cold, feed a fever." B: "I don't think that's what a doctor would say."
See also: feed, fever, starve

starve for (something)

To have an intense need or longing for something; to be deprived of something. You'd think the child was starved for attention from the way he screams and shouts around his parents. We've been starving for reliable staff at the hotel lately.
See also: starve

starve out

To deprive someone or something of food in order to force them to submit or surrender. A noun or pronoun can be used between "starve" and "out." The terrorists have indicated that they will not leave the building peacefully, so police are planning to simply starve them out. The empire's army began starving the rebel city out with a siege that lasted nearly eleven months.
See also: out, starve

starving for (something)

Having an intense hunger and craving for a particular kind of food. I hope our food comes out soon—I'm absolutely starving for a big, juicy steak! I've been on a diet for two weeks now, and I am starving for something sugary.
See also: starve
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Feed a cold and starve a fever.

Prov. You should feed someone who has a cold, and withhold food from someone who has a fever.; (or, interpreted differently) If you feed someone who has a cold, that will ward off a fever. Jill: I don't feel like going out to lunch with you. I have a cold. Jane: All the more reason you should get something to eat. Feed a cold and starve a fever, you know.
See also: and, cold, feed, fever, starve

starve for some food

to be very hungry for something. I am just starved for some fresh peaches. We were starved for dinner by the time we finally got to eat.
See also: food, starve

starve for someone or something

Fig. to have a strong desire or need for someone or something. (Based on starved for some food.) I am starved for Jane. I miss her so! Claire was starved for affection.
See also: starve

starve (someone or an animal) into something

to force someone or an animal to do something by starvation. The torturers finally starved the prisoner into telling the battle plans. They starved the water buffalo into a state of weakness.
See also: starve

starve (someone or an animal) out of some place

 and starve someone or an animal out
to force a living creature to come out of a hiding place or a place of security by starvation. The attackers tried to starve the people out of the walled city. We tried to starve out the mice.
See also: of, out, place, starve
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

be ˈstarving (for something)

(also be ˈstarved especially American English ) (informal) feel very hungry: When’s dinner? I’m starving!
See also: starve
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

starve for

v.
To cause someone or something to suffer from lack of something. Used in the passive: The dog was starved for attention.
See also: starve

starve of

v.
To deprive someone or something of some resource, resulting in its depletion: Doctors tried to destroy the cancerous cells by starving them of oxygen. The agency has been starved of money by people in Congress who oppose it.
See also: of, starve

starve out

v.
To force someone or something to surrender by depriving them of food, as in a siege: The police starved out the criminals, who had refused to leave their apartment. If they refuse to surrender the garrison, we'll just starve them out.
See also: out, starve
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • a burnt child dreads the fire
  • burnt
  • bad workers always blame their tools
  • better bend than break
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
References in periodicals archive
He can even starve thousands, including women and children, knowing that he faces no risk of Western intervention.
U.S. editorial excerpts
(2) David Stockman, Director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan administration and initially a supply-sider, is often credited with coining the phrase "starve the beast." But Stockman was not, in fact, a starve-the-beast proponent.
Does "Starve the Beast" work?
Needless to say we didn't starve and we could sleep at night knowing the rent was paid.
Wise words for the starving
The sufferer intentionally starves herself, and is unwilling or unable to keep a healthy weight for her size, height, body type and activity level.
Amy's story
"You allowed your dogs to starve and it was only by chance that one of them was caught just about early enough for it to survive."
'Ignorant' man starved dogs; COURT: Owner, who took dead and dying pets to vet, avoids jail
Should they starve or freeze to death while sleeping in the park while their appeals are being heard?
Letter: Your Say - Immigrants left to starve
A Billingham woman has been given a four-month jail sentence for disobeying court orders after letting a dog starve to death.
Dogdeath woman given jail sentence
MORE than one million innocent Afghans will starve to death by Christmas unless air strikes against the Taliban are halted to allow mercy missions, aid agencies warned yesterday.
THE WORLD FIGHTS BACK: 1m WILL STARVE
Bears are going to starve to death," Nicklen said.
Starving Polar Bear Captured On Video Rummaging Through Trashcan
8 ( ANI ): Researchers have found a new technique to starve and kill cancer tumours.
New drug starves and kills cancer tumours
Tens of thousands starve to death because North Korea cannot produce enough food for its 24 million people.
'Parents kill children for food' claim; NORTH KOREA
Not much preparation for that besides wax+starve!!" One fan replied: "What a great role model telling your 6 1/2 million followers that the way to get ready for a magazine cover is to 'starve' urself." Another follower wrote: "Thats a bad message to your fans ri-ri im disappointed."
I?rIrI?SponSIble
"It is simply not an option to allow animal to starve and sit back and do nothing about it."
Teen who starved his dog jailed; COURT: Alsatian and puppy allowed to die
It is difficult to comprehend in this day and age a child can starve to death without anybody appearing to notice."
BEYOND BELIEF; ..that in a bustling modern city a child of seven was withdrawn from school and kept in squalid conditions for five months before dying of starvation - MRS JUSTICE ELEANOR KING
IN A society that is paranoid about watching us, it beggars belief that a seven-year-old girl can starve to death and no one noticed.
Letter: Your Say - Beggars belie; In association with POST OFFICE