Piping Hot (Origin)

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Piping Hot"?

The term piping hot means extremely hot. It is thought to have originated from the sound of the old pipe organs in large churches. It was first penned by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales. He wrote Wafers piping hot out of the gleed.

A Competing Theory

In Scotland, when ceremonial dishes of food are brought to the table to the accompaniment of bagpipes, they are piped in; i.e., they are piping hot.
Piping Hot (Origin)

Examples of Use:

  • That plate has just come out of the oven. It's piping hot!
  • Why didn't you blow on it before you ate it? I told you it was piping hot.
  • The baking tray is piping hot. Use oven gloves.

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See Also

What are idioms? What is figurative language? A list of common grammar errors A list of easily confused words A list of sayings and proverbs