"Me apetece un idiota"..."I feel like an idiot"?

Question

I swear that's the translation I read on some classmate's paper.

Shouldn't "apetecer" only be used in sentences that deal with food?

"Me apetece comer helado". = I feel like eating ice-cream

"Apetezco una torta de jamón". = I feel like eating a ham sandwich.

"I feel like a fool" IS NOT "Apetezco un tonto"

Answer 1

Apetecer doesn't have to be used only with food, it can be used in the same manner as "tener gana de algo".

Apetecer is to "desire" something, so to me, "Apetezco un tonto" means "I desire a fool", but maybe there's a colloquial meaning that I don't know.

Answer 2

Correct. "Me apetece" is not "I feel like a + adjective." However, it's used for more than just food.

Me apetece salir = I feel like going out.

Answer 3

The thing or food that appeals to you must be the subject - not you. And this word is used only for things of a positive nature - not being a fool.

I feel like a fool ..... Me siento como idiota.