Expressions Using the Verb EAT

Expressions Using the Verb EAT

Eating is such a natural part of life that it’s no surprise English is full of colourful expressions built around the verb eat. These phrases help you sound more natural, more fluent, and more in tune with everyday British English. Some of them describe how we eat, others describe behaviour, emotions, or even competitive situations.

In this lesson, we will explore a variety of idioms, phrasal verbs, and expressions using eat, complete with meanings and clear example sentences.

Let’s tuck in!

Eat in

Meaning: To eat at home instead of going to a restaurant.

• I’m not feeling very well — could we please eat in tonight instead of going out?
• We’ve been spending too much lately, so we’re trying to eat in more often.

This is a common phrasal verb used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing plans.

Eat out

Meaning: To eat in restaurants or cafés.

• I don’t feel like cooking. What do you think about eating out tonight?
• We usually eat out on Fridays as a little family tradition.

These two phrasal verbs (eat in and eat out) are perfect opposites — very useful for speaking exams and daily conversation.

Eat up

Meaning: To finish all the food on your plate.

• If you eat up all the food on your plate, you may go out afterwards.
• Come on, eat up your soup before it gets cold.

Useful in parents talking to children, teachers at school lunches, or any situation where someone should finish their meal. 

Expressions using the verb EAT

Eat out of someone’s hand

Meaning: To do whatever someone wants; to be easily controlled or influenced.

• The new assistant is so nervous and eager to please — I’ve got him eating out of my hand.
• Promise children a trip to the zoo and before long they’ll be eating out of your hand.

Imagine feeding a tame bird — it trusts you completely!

Eat like a bird

Meaning: To eat very little.

• If you want to lose weight, choose a sustainable diet — don’t just eat like a bird.
• No wonder you’re so slim — you eat like a bird.

This phrase describes tiny appetites, not healthy eating habits.

Eat like a horse

Meaning: To eat a lot.

• Of course you gained weight — you’re eating like a horse!
• I’m not sure it’s good for you to eat like a horse. Try cutting down your portions.

This idiom pairs naturally with eat like a bird as its opposite.

Eat your heart out

Meaning: Used jokingly to say that someone should feel jealous because you are doing something better than they can.

• Look at my girlfriend dancing — eat your heart out, Madonna!
• Here’s my homemade pizza. Eat your heart out, Gordon Ramsay!

This is humorous and a little cheeky — not meant to be taken seriously.

Expressions using the verb EAT

Eat humble pie

Meaning: To admit you were wrong and apologise.

• When she realised she was wrong, Adriana ate humble pie and apologised.
• Sometimes at work you have to eat humble pie, even when you don’t want to.

Exam tip (FCE/CAE):

This idiom often appears in news articles and opinion pieces.

Dog-eat-dog

Meaning: A very competitive situation where people will harm or betray others to succeed.

• It’s a dog-eat-dog world in politics — politicians will do anything to get votes.
• Many young professionals say that the job market today feels dog-eat-dog.

This expression describes the world, a job, an industry, or a situation — not food!

Grab a bite to eat

Meaning: To eat something quick and easy, often when you don’t have much time.

• I’m getting hungry — let’s grab a bite to eat before the meeting.
• We’ll grab a bite in town later; we don’t have time for a full meal now.

This expression is very common in casual spoken English.

Eat away at (something)

Meaning: To worry or upset someone continuously; to slowly damage someone emotionally.

• The guilt began to eat away at him after he lied to his parents.
• Don’t let anxiety eat away at you — talk to someone.
• Her financial worries were eating away at her confidence.

This idiom shows how English uses “eat” metaphorically — not about food, but about emotional strain.

Expressions using the verb EAT

Eat your words

Meaning: To admit that what you said before was wrong — especially after saying it very confidently.

• Mark said the project would fail, but when it succeeded he had to eat his words.
• I thought the film would be terrible, but I ended up loving it. I had to eat my words.
• She laughed at my cooking, but after tasting the meal she happily ate her words.

This idiom is often used in friendly teasing or after predictions turn out to be wrong.

Eat someone alive

Meaning: To criticise, punish, or treat someone very harshly — sometimes verbally, sometimes literally (in sports or competition).

• The coach will eat them alive if they play like that again.
• The opposition ate him alive during the debate.
• If you’re not prepared for that interview, they’ll eat you alive.

This is a strong expression — best used in dramatic or informal contexts, not polite conversation.

What’s eating you?

Meaning: An informal way to ask What’s bothering you? or Why are you upset?

• You’ve been quiet all evening — what’s eating you?
• She kept pacing around the room, so I asked, “What’s eating you?”
• If something’s eating you, just tell me. I’m here to help.

This idiom is warm and caring, often used with close friends or family.

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