cry cupboard

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cry cupboard (third-person singular simple present cries cupboard, present participle crying cupboard, simple past and past participle cried cupboard)

1. (archaic, idiomatic) To want or need food; to show signs of hunger.
   • 1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “Dialogue II”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page 119:

     Footman. Madam, Dinner's upon the Table.
     Col. Faith, I am glad of it; my Belly began to cry Cupboard.

   • 1822 May 21, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Dolph Heyliger”, in Bracebridge Hall, or The Humourists. A Medley. […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 283:

     Let's see what prog we have for supper; the kettle has boiled long enough; my stomach cries cupboard; and I'll warrant our guest is in no mood to dally with his trencher.

   • c. 1834, Robert Seymour, Seymour's Humorous Sketches, A Day's Sport:

     I'm rayther peckish — my stomick's bin a-crying cupboard for a hour past.

• “cupboard”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.