К-374

(КАК) ИЗ ГОЛОДНОГО КРАЯ coll ((как +) PrepP these forms only adv or subj-compl with бытье (subj: human fixed WO

(to look emaciated, eat hungrily etc) as if one were starving, without food for a long time: (look (eat)) as if one hadn't eaten for days

(look (eat)) as if one were on the brink of starvation (eat) as if one had never seen food before

Neg не из голодного края - itfc not the first time one has seen food.

Пили красное и по неполной рюмке, губы вытирали чистыми платками, закусывая, оставляли на тарелке малость: не из голодного края, мол (Максимов 3). They drank red wine, not quite filling the glasses, they dabbed at their lips with clean handkerchiefs, and when they ate they left a little on the plate: It's not the first time we've seen food, you know! (3a).