eat around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eat around" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to eat slowly and pick at different parts of a meal without finishing it all at once. It can also mean to avoid eating a specific food or ingredient. Example: "I don't like mushrooms, so I'll have to eat around them in this dish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

You cannot eat around foods or pick them out.

The New York Times

"I thought I would just eat around the bugs.

The New York Times - Food

The French eat around a million a day.

The New York Times - Food

Benefit now On average we eat around 2mg lutein a day.

Independent

"It's not like there isn't anywhere else to eat around here..."....

Independent

Why then, is it so damn hard to find a decent bite to eat around here?

Independent

You're already too late to make toast, so you try to eat around the dust.

The Guardian - Money

But there are still some great, cheap places to eat around here, too.

The Guardian - Travel

"It would be nice to go out to eat around here," she said.

The New York Times

The planter called the importer and invited him to dinner the next day, saying: "I eat around twelve.

The New Yorker

Every weekend, we used to drink and eat around Selkirk, Peebles and Hawick, and I fell in love with it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eat around" to describe selectively consuming parts of a meal, especially when avoiding certain ingredients or flavors. For instance, "I'll just eat around the onions."

Common error

Avoid using "eat around" when you mean to describe eating everything but slowly. "Eat around" usually means to avoid certain parts, not to consume the whole meal at a leisurely pace.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "eat around" primarily functions as a modifier indicating a selective way of consuming food. It suggests that someone is avoiding certain elements while still consuming the rest. Ludwig confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "eat around" is commonly used to describe the act of selectively consuming food, often to avoid certain ingredients or components. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct. Its usage spans from informal conversations about personal preferences to neutral discussions in news and media. While alternatives like "pick at" or "nibble at" exist, "eat around" specifically highlights the act of bypassing unwanted elements. Understanding its connotation and usage patterns can improve clarity in both writing and conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pick at

Implies eating without much appetite or enthusiasm.

nibble at

Focuses on eating in small bites.

graze on

Suggests eating small amounts over a period of time.

eat selectively

Highlights the act of choosing specific parts of a meal.

avoid eating

Focuses on the action of intentionally not eating something.

eat sparingly

Implies eating in small quantities.

consume in moderation

Highlights balanced eating habits.

dine leisurely

Suggests a relaxed and unhurried approach to eating.

eat intermittently

Implies eating at irregular intervals.

partake gingerly

Focuses on careful and cautious eating.

FAQs

What does it mean to "eat around" something?

To "eat around" something means to avoid eating a particular part of a dish, often because you dislike it. For example, "I'll eat around the mushrooms since I don't like them."

Is it correct to say "eat around"?

Yes, "eat around" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that's commonly used. Ludwig confirms this.

What can I say instead of "eat around"?

You can use alternatives like "pick at", "nibble at", or "avoid eating" depending on the context.

How can I use "eat around" in a sentence?

You can say, "I'm not a fan of olives, so I usually eat around them in my salad." or "She had to eat around the bones in the fish."