My JLPT textbook has a section on the use of ~とばかりに
. It explains that the term means to do something with such a strong implication that the meaning is obvious, even though one isn't directly stating the intended meaning.
For one of the examples, it says:
親子{おやこ}げんかをした時{とき}、父{ちち}は出{で}て行{い}けとばかりに玄関{げんかん}を指差{ゆびさ}した。
This makes sense to me. The father is not actually saying, "get out,", but his action of pointing to the door so obviously implies it that his meaning is clear.
However, there is this other example which confuses me:
注文{ちゅうもん}した料理{りょうり}が来{く}ると、子どもたちは待{ま}ってましたとばかりに食{た}べ始{はじ}めた。
This I don't get, because presumably the kids have actually waited for the food to arrive (unless the restaurant has quantum based instantaneous service...). So what purpose is とばかりに
serving here?
What exactly does とばかりに
mean?