Expressions Using the Verb EAT

Expressions using the verb EAT

Hi there! Do you eat like a bird or like a horse? Find out the meanings of expressions using the verb EAT. 

Eat in

If you eat in, you eat at home.

• I’m not feeling very well, could we please eat in tonight instead of going to that restaurant.

Eat out

If you eat out, you eat in restaurants and cafes.

• I don’t feel like cooking, what do you think about eating out?

Expressions using the verb EAT

Eat up

If you eat something up, then you eat all of it.

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

Eat out of someone’s hand

If you eat out of someone’s hand, you completely agree to do what they want.

• The new assistant is so scared and insecure; he does everything I say.  I’ve got him eating out of my hand. 
• You should promise children that you’ll take them to the zoo and buy them things and before you know it, they’ll be eating out of your hand.

Eat like a bird

To eat like a bird means to eat very small amounts of food.

• If you want to lose weight you should go on a sustainable diet not eat like a bird. 
• No wonder you are so slim – you eat like a bird.

Eat like a horse

This idiom has the opposite meaning; it means to eat a lot.

• Of course you gained weight – you’re eating like a horse!
• I’m not sure it’ll do you good to eat like a horse. You should cut down your portions.

Expressions using the verb EAT

Eat your heart out

Use this expression to say that you do something better than a famous person.

• Look at my girlfriend dancing. Eat your heart out Madonna! 

Eat humble pie

If you eat humble pie, you admit that you made a mistake.

• When she realised that she was wrong, Adriana ate humble pie and apologised.
• Even if you don’t like your superiors at work, you have to eat humble pie sometimes.

Expressions using the verb EAT

Dog-eat-dog

A dog-eat-dog situation is when people are ready and willing to harm others to succeed in something.

• It’s a dog-eat-dog world in politics and politicians will do anything to get votes.
• Unfortunately, we all live in a dog-eat-dog world.

Grab a bite to eat

If you grab a bite to eat, you eat some food which is quick and easy to get.

• I’m getting hungry. Let’s grab a bite to eat before the meeting.
• We’re in a hurry and we don’t have time to eat. We’ll grab a bite to eat in town later.

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