eating through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eating through" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where one is describing the act of consuming something in a manner that suggests going through it quickly or thoroughly, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "The mice were eating through the packaging to get to the food inside."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Cohens, who live just north of Miami, are both on Social Security and eating through savings.

Huffington Post

Kids learn about what they're eating through their choices.

The New York Times

"He's eating through a straw so it can't be good.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm yet to hear of anybody who advocates eating through the small hours.

Independent

Ukraine's tax revenues have dived and the military is eating through cash.

The Economist

The birds had nested in the roof, and their droppings were eating through the ceiling.

The New York Times

"They have the capacity of eating through major timber in a couple of years".

The New York Times

Mrs. Obama's previous book, "American Grown," promoted healthy eating through recipes and historical vignettes.

The New York Times - Books

The two could be seen eating through the windows, against which surprised passerby pressed.

The Washington Post

It is industrious but shy, and spends most of its time eating through trees in order to create dams.

The Economist

The Supersizers Go... (a bit of a filler in every sense) is a series about eating through the ages.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "eating through" to describe the consumption of resources, consider whether "depleting" or "spending rapidly" might be more precise and professional.

Common error

Avoid using "eating through" in formal writing where a more precise verb like "depleting", "consuming", or "eroding" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eating through" functions primarily as a verb phrase, describing an action of consumption that often implies penetration, depletion, or erosion. This is evident in examples from Ludwig, such as "flames eating through the first floor" or "eating through savings accounts."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

16%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "eating through" is a verb phrase used to describe the action of consuming something, often implying penetration or depletion. While grammatical status is acceptable and widely used in various contexts, Ludwig AI suggests that in some settings it might not be the most precise or formal choice. As a result, consider alternatives such as "depleting", "consuming rapidly", or "eroding", especially in professional or academic writing. The prevalence of "eating through" is very common, with frequent occurrences in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Chewing through

Implies a literal act of chewing, suitable for physical objects only.

Gnawing through

Similar to chewing, but suggests a rougher, less refined process.

Consuming rapidly

Focuses on the speed of consumption, omitting the sense of penetration or progression implied by "through".

Devouring

Emphasizes rapid and enthusiastic consumption but without the implication of creating a path.

Depleting quickly

Shifts the focus to the reduction of resources rather than a physical object being consumed.

Spending rapidly

Suitable when referring to resources like money, highlighting the speed of expenditure.

Eroding

Implies a gradual wearing away, suitable for physical structures or abstract concepts.

Corroding

Specifies a chemical or destructive form of consumption, typically of materials.

Penetrating

Highlights the act of passing into or through something but lacks the consumption aspect.

Working through

Conveys the sense of progressing through a task or problem, losing the consumption aspect.

FAQs

What does "eating through" mean?

The phrase "eating through" generally means consuming something rapidly or thoroughly, often implying the consumption leads to penetration or exhaustion of a resource. It can be used literally, like "termites eating through wood", or figuratively, like "a company eating through its cash reserves".

What are some alternatives to "eating through" when describing financial losses?

When referring to finances, you can use alternatives such as "depleting quickly", "spending rapidly", or "exhausting" depending on the context.

Is "eating through" appropriate for formal writing?

While understandable, "eating through" might be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using more precise and formal alternatives like "consuming rapidly" or "eroding".

How can I use "eating through" in a sentence?

You can use "eating through" to describe literal consumption, as in "The acid was eating through the metal", or figurative consumption, as in "The company was eating through its profits quickly". Ensure the context aligns with the informal tone of the phrase.