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chow down

B1 informal intransitive
In simple words

To eat a lot of food, usually quickly and with great enjoyment

Literal meaning: 'Chow' is slang for food; 'down' suggests consuming/swallowing — so literally 'eat food down'

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To eat a meal eagerly and with a healthy appetite, often in a relaxed or celebratory setting

"After the long hike, we sat around the campfire and chowed down on hotdogs and marshmallows."

"It's time to chow down."

— Common phrase used in US military culture and popularized in American TV and film
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To eat a large quantity of a specific food (followed by 'on')

"The kids were chowing down on chips and salsa while watching the game."

Usage notes

Primarily American English. Very informal — not appropriate for formal situations. Often used in the context of a big meal, a barbecue, or any occasion where people are eating enthusiastically. Can be followed by 'on' to specify what is being eaten: 'chow down on pizza'.

Commonly used with

pizza burgers barbecue food tacos wings

Forms

Base
chow down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chows down
he/she/it
Past simple
chowed down
yesterday
Past participle
chowed down
have + pp
-ing form
chowing down
continuous

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