Topic: LEISURE
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | etan |
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eat S1 W1
past tense ate
past participle eaten
past tense ate past participle eaten1 to put food in your mouth and chew and swallow it COLLOCATIONS 
COLLOCATIONS 
eat well/healthily/sensibly (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat right American English (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat properly British English (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat hungrily something to eat (=some food) eat like a horse informal (=eat a very large amount) eat like a bird informal (=eat very little) a bite to eat informal (=some food) eating habits eating disorder (=a medical condition in which you do not eat normally) ready-to-eat (=used to describe foods that you do not have to prepare) I couldn't eat another thing/bite spoken (=used to say that you are full) 
Felix chatted cheerfully as he ate.A small girl was eating an ice cream. We had plenty to eat and drink. No chicken for me. I don't eat meat (=I never eat meat). Does Rob eat fish?
food
[intransitive and transitive]COLLOCATIONS eat well/healthily/sensibly (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat right American English (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat properly British English (=eat food that will keep you healthy) eat hungrily something to eat (=some food) eat like a horse informal (=eat a very large amount) eat like a bird informal (=eat very little) a bite to eat informal (=some food) eating habits eating disorder (=a medical condition in which you do not eat normally) ready-to-eat (=used to describe foods that you do not have to prepare) I couldn't eat another thing/bite spoken (=used to say that you are full)
Felix chatted cheerfully as he ate.A small girl was eating an ice cream.We had plenty to eat and drink.No chicken for me. I don't eat meat (=I never eat meat).Does Rob eat fish?2 to have a meal : Let's eat first and then go to a movie. They're eating breakfast.
meal
[intransitive and transitive]DFDLLet's eat first and then go to a movie.They're eating breakfast.4
eat your heart out
a) used to say, especially humorously, that something is very good : That's a great drawing. Pablo Picasso eat your heart out!
That's a great drawing. Pablo Picasso eat your heart out!b) British English to be unhappy about something or to want someone or something very much : If you had any sense you'd forget him, but eat your heart out if you want to.
If you had any sense you'd forget him, but eat your heart out if you want to.5 to be very angry with someone or to defeat them completely : You can't tell him that - he'll eat you alive!
eat somebody alive/eat somebody for breakfast
You can't tell him that - he'll eat you alive!6 to use a very large amount of something : This car eats petrol.
use
[transitive]This car eats petrol.7 to admit that you were wrong and say that you are sorry
eat humble pie
also eat crow American English8 used to emphasize that you think something is not true or will not happen : If the Democrats win the election, I'll eat my hat!
I'll eat my hat
If the Democrats win the election, I'll eat my hat!9 to have made someone very willing to believe you or do what you want : He soon had the client eating out of his hand.
have somebody eating out of your hand
He soon had the client eating out of his hand.10 to eat a lot of someone's supply of food, so that they have to buy more - used humorously
eat somebody out of house and home
11 used to ask why someone seems annoyed or upset : What's eating Sally today?
what's eating somebody?
spokenWhat's eating Sally today?13 used to tell someone that you are not angry with them and they need not be frightened
I/we won't eat you
spoken ➔ eats
➔ have your cake and eat it
at cake1 (6)eat something ↔ away
phrasal verbThe stones are being eaten away by pollution.eat away at something/somebody
phrasal verb1 to gradually remove or reduce the amount of something : His gambling was eating away at their income.
His gambling was eating away at their income.2 to make someone feel very worried over a long period of time : The thought of mother alone like that was eating away at her.
The thought of mother alone like that was eating away at her.eat in
phrasal verbeat into something
phrasal verb1 to gradually reduce the amount of time, money etc that is available : John's university fees have been eating into our savings.
John's university fees have been eating into our savings.2 to gradually damage or destroy something : Acid eats into the metal, damaging its surface.
Acid eats into the metal, damaging its surface.eat out
phrasal verbDo you eat out a lot?eat up
phrasal verb1 to eat all of something : Come on, eat up, there's a good girl.
Come on, eat up, there's a good girl.2 to use a lot of something, especially until there is none left : Big cars just eat up money.
eat something ↔ up
informalBig cars just eat up money.3 to be very jealous, angry etc, so that you cannot think about anything else
