chew up
To bite and grind food until it is small and soft, or to badly damage or use up something.
Meanings
To chew food thoroughly until it is broken down and soft enough to swallow.
"Make sure you chew up your food properly before swallowing."
To damage, destroy, or consume something completely, often through a grinding or destructive process.
"The printer chewed up my report and I had to print the whole thing again."
To consume or waste large amounts of time, money, or resources.
"The legal fees alone chewed up nearly half of the settlement money."
The literal sense (chewing food) is straightforward. The figurative sense (destroying or consuming resources) is very versatile — machines 'chew up' materials, time 'chews up' your day, and difficult situations can 'chew up' people. Also used for verbal attacks in American English.
Commonly used with
Forms
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