eat up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eat up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used as an imperative phrase to urge someone to finish their meal, as in the example sentence: "Come on, kids, eat up so you can go out and play."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So eat up and enjoy.

The New York Times

"Eat up, kid, eat up," Papa says impatiently.

The New Yorker

(Fees eat up the other £20).

The Economist

Tournaments eat up several days of school.

The New York Times - Sports

And pictures eat up too much bandwidth.

The Economist

Naturally, the rehearsals involved eat up funds.

The New York Times - Arts

"They must eat up to the Sichuanese".

The New Yorker

Students will eat up every new idea.

The New York Times

Eat up, eat up!" So Christmas dinner was completely ruined by my optimum foraging experiments.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

How could a little text eat up 10 megabytes?

The New York Times

He would eat up to 12 eggs for breakfast.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to finish their meal, use "eat up" in a friendly and encouraging tone, particularly with children or close friends. For example, say "Eat up, we have a fun day planned!"

Common error

While "eat up" is acceptable in casual conversation, it might be too informal for business meetings or formal dinners. Opt for phrases like "please enjoy your meal" or "help yourself" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "eat up" primarily functions as an imperative, urging someone to consume food completely. Ludwig indicates that it is commonly used in this way. It can also function as a descriptive verb phrase, indicating the complete consumption or utilization of something, not just food.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

17%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "eat up" is a versatile expression with two primary meanings: an imperative to finish eating and a descriptive verb indicating complete consumption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in informal contexts. While acceptable in news and general conversation, it's advisable to choose more formal alternatives in professional or academic settings. Remember to consider your audience and the specific nuance you want to convey when deciding whether to use "eat up" or a related phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finish your food

Focuses specifically on completing the act of eating the existing food.

consume completely

Emphasizes the thoroughness of consumption, suitable for both literal and figurative contexts.

gobble down

Implies eating quickly and enthusiastically.

devour

Suggests eating with great hunger or enjoyment.

polish off

Informal way to say to finish something, usually food, quickly and easily.

use up

Focuses on exhausting a resource, broadening the application beyond just food.

drain

To deplete or empty something, often used in the context of resources.

believe implicitly

Shifts the meaning to accepting something without question.

accept without questioning

Emphasizes the lack of critical thought in believing something.

lap up

Suggests accepting information or praise eagerly and uncritically.

FAQs

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

You can use "eat up" as an imperative to encourage someone to finish their meal, like "Eat up, you'll need your energy!" or to indicate something is completely consumed, like "The project ate up all our resources."

What can I say instead of "eat up" when referring to food?

Alternatives to "eat up" include "finish your food", "consume completely", or "gobble down" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is "eat up" appropriate in formal writing?

While "eat up" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use phrases like "consume entirely" or "utilize completely", depending on the intended meaning.

What does it mean when someone says something "ate up" all their time?

When something "ate up" all your time, it means it "consumed completely" or used a large portion of your time, often unexpectedly or undesirably. It implies that the activity took longer than anticipated.