Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

its-feast-or-famine

idiom

/ɪts fiːst ɔr ˈfæmɪn/

Definition

A situation characterized by extremes, where there are either abundant resources or a complete lack of them.

Examples

In the tech industry, it’s often feast or famine; one moment, projects are pouring in, and the next, there’s nothing.
In freelance work, many face the feast or famine cycle, with some months filled with projects and others with none.

Meaning

This phrase describes a scenario in which one experiences either an overwhelming abundance or a severe scarcity, often in contexts such as income, opportunity, or success.