its sweetness repels the stomach

[alpacinou]

Hello

In my language, when something is "too sweet", we say an idiom which literary translates to "its sweetness repels the stomach".

Is there something similar in English? To talk about an edible item which is "too sweet and its excessive sweetness kind of annoys you".

 

[SoothingDave]

Not an idiom, but "cloying" is a word to describe overly sweet. It's usually used metaphorically, like the cloying ending of a happy movie.

 

[alpacinou]

Not an idiom, but "cloying" is a word to describe overly sweet. It's usually used metaphorically, like the cloying ending of a happy movie.

Can I say these? Are they natural?

1. The ice cream was cloying. I didn't enjoy it at all!
2. That chocolate bar/candy was cloying.

 

[GoesStation]

Can I say these? Are they natural?

1. The ice cream was cloying. I didn't enjoy it at all!
2. That chocolate bar/candy was cloying.

It's generally used metaphorically or to describe a flavor, not a substance.

Something that's overly sweet can be said to make your teeth ache.

 

[alpacinou]

I saw in the dictionary an example that said "the wine is not cloying".

So, it can be used for wine and not for ice cream for example?

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cloying

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You're right, "repels the stomach" wouldn't be natural. We might say:

- Ice cream turns my stomach.
- Ice cream disagrees with me.
- Ice cream makes me sick.
- Ice cream give me heartburn.
- Ice cream give me agita.
- Ice cream makes me blanch.

Those are all great expressions, but none are just for sweet food.

 

[tedmc]

How about: the ice cream is way too sweet for my liking?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

How about: the ice cream is way too sweet for my liking?

I like "way too sweet." More natural:

- The ice cream is way too sweet for me.
- The ice cream is way too sweet.

It's always way too sweet for me.

 

[GoesStation]

Those are all great expressions, but like cloying, none are just for sweet food. I can't think of an expression that is reserved for sweets.

When it describes a flavor, cloying means "excessively sweet".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

When it describes a flavor, cloying means "excessively sweet".

I'll take it. Sold. I'll change my post. Thanks!

 

[teechar]

we [STRIKE]say[/STRIKE] have/use an idiom

How about "It's sickeningly sweet"?

 

[Rover_KE]

- Ice cream give me agita.

I've just learnt a new word.

Is agita in common use anywhere?

 

[emsr2d2]

I've never heard it. (Also, it should have been "Ice cream gives me ...".)

 

[alpacinou]

Guys, I really like cloying!

Do you think this is unnatural?

I was invited to dinner last night. The dinner itself was great but I can't say the same about the dessert. It was cloying.

 

[alpacinou]

And this?

The cake at the birthday party last night was a bit cloying.

 

[emsr2d2]

They're both grammatical but you're unlikely to hear the word "cloying" in everyday speech (BrE).

 

[Skrej]

How about "It's sickeningly sweet"?

Along those same lines, I'll sometimes refer to something as 'nauseatingly sweet'.

 

[alpacinou]

I've never heard it. (Also, it should have been "Ice cream gives me ...".)

I see. Other than its being common, is there a chance you would say something like that and would not be understood?

What about American English?