Meaning

hanuman,

"helping" usually refers to a portion of food.

So, "You will have a second helping." seems indicate that someone will have a second portion of food. This sounds odd, though, because it seems as though the food is being forced upon you.

Let's say you went to a barbeque. After you ate you steak and potatoes, your host says, "hanuman, there is a lot of steak and potatoes left, would you like a second helping?" This means, you would like another steak and more potatoes?

You usually don't tell someone that they are going to have a second helping unless you are force feeding them.

Perhaps you are in hospital recovering. The doctor says you must eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. After you eat your first meal, the nurse comes by and says, "You will have a second helping." That means, you are going to eat more, so get ready.

A third helping just means more food after the second helping.

Often people go to a smorgasbord where they pay a flat fee for all they can eat. Let's say that $25 entitles you to have as much food as you want at the smorgasbord. So you and your friends have a game of football. Now that everyone is very hungry and thirsty, you go to the smorgasbord. After you devour your first plate of food, you go back for your second helping. Once you polish off that plate of food, you go back for a third helping. Finally you are full.

Note: "polish off" informal- To finish or dispose of quickly and easily (Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company.)

Hope that helps.

MountainHiker