Definition

1. Verb (idiomatic, informal):
   • To be pregnant; to be expecting a baby. This is a humorous and informal expression that compares pregnancy to having bread baking in an oven.

Usage

This phrase is used exclusively to describe a woman who is pregnant. It is a light-hearted, colloquial idiom. It is generally considered informal and should be used in casual contexts among friends and family, not in formal or medical situations.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Did you hear the news? Sarah has a bun in the oven! (Did you hear the news? Sarah is pregnant!)
  • They are so excited because they have a bun in the oven after trying for years. (They are so excited because they are expecting a baby after trying for years.)
  • When she announced she had a bun in the oven, the whole family cheered. (When she announced she was pregnant, the whole family cheered.)

Advanced Usage

• The idiom is almost always used in the active voice with "have" ("has a bun in the oven"). It is not typically used in passive constructions.
• It is often used to announce a pregnancy in a playful or surprising way.

Variants and Related Words

• To be expecting: A more standard, but still slightly informal, way to say someone is pregnant.
• To be pregnant: The standard, neutral term.
• To be with child: An old-fashioned or literary way to say someone is pregnant.

Synonyms

• Be pregnant: The direct, non-idiomatic synonym.
• Be expecting: A common informal synonym.
• Be in the family way: Another informal, slightly old-fashioned idiom.

Related Idioms

• To have a baby on the way: A very common and slightly less informal idiom with a similar meaning.
  • Congratulations! I heard you have a baby on the way. (Congratulations! I heard you are expecting a child.)

Notes

This idiom is fixed in form. You cannot say "have a roll in the oven" or "have a bun in the stove" and retain the same meaning. The key components are "have," "a bun," and "in the oven."

Verb

1. be pregnant with
   • She is bearing his child
   • The are expecting another child in January
   • I am carrying his child